U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces resignation

Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces his resignation as U.K. Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party, outside No.10 Downing Street on June 22, 2026 in London, England. Photo by Dan Kitwood /Getty Images

Article content

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday after less than two years in office in a term characterised by policy U-turns and deep public unpopularity.

Article content

“Every decision I have taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party,” Starmer said as he choked up in an emotional speech outside 10 Downing Street.

Article content

Article content

Article content

Keir Starmer hugs his wife, Victoria Starmer, after announcing his resignation as UK Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party, outside No.10 Downing Street on June 22, 2026 in London, England. Photo by Dan Kitwood /Getty Images

Article content

Starmer said the process of picking a new leader for the centre-left party would be launched in July and he would remain as prime minister until his successor is chosen, to be in place before parliament returns from the summer recess in September.

Article content

Article content

Starmer’s main rival, veteran politician Andy Burnham, is due to be sworn in as a member of parliament on Monday after winning a crucial special election on Thursday, allowing him to return to parliament and clearing his path to run for party leader.

Article content

“I will remain in post as prime minister until the contest is complete, and I will do everything I can to ensure an orderly handover of power,” Starmer added.

Article content

Britain’s Justice Secretary and deputy Prime Minister David Lammy (C) stands with members of Downing Street staff as Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer makes a statement on his future outside 10 Downing Street on the morning of June 22, 2026, in London. Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS /AFP via Getty Images

Article content

Until the weekend, Starmer had insisted he was going to fight on and remain as prime minister as he fought off challenges and calls to step down.

Article content

He has clung to that position for months after multiple scandals and high-profile resignations that piled the pressure on him and his Labour party.

Article content

But Britain is now set to get its seventh prime minister in a decade.

Article content

Starmer’s widely anticipated announcement comes a day before the 10-year-anniversary of the Brexit referendum, which triggered the UK’s exit from the European Union and an unprecedented churn of prime ministers.

Article content

Article content

Starmer has been credited with reshaping Labour into an election-winning party which clinched a decisive victory in 2024, ending 14 years of Conservative rule.

Article content

Article content

But his term was derailed by missteps ranging from benefits cuts to criticism over defence spending plans.

Article content

He was nearly ousted in March over his ill-fated decision to appoint Peter Mandelson, a known associate of the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as the UK’s ambassador to Washington.

Article content

He has also struggled to fight off the rapid rise of the far-right, anti-immigration Reform UK party — which defeated Labour in local elections in May, further weakening Starmer’s position.

Article content

“I will also give my successor my full and unequivocal support, knowing that they will inherit a Britain that is far stronger and fairer than the one I inherited two years ago,” Starmer said in his resignation speech.

Article content

Article content