Keir Starmer Announces His Resignation as UK Prime Minister and Leader of Labour Party

Summary

• He says every decision he has made in office has been about “putting the country I love first”
• Andy Burnham – who could replace the PM – will be in Westminster today to be sworn in as MP for Makerfield, after winning the by-election last week
• If Starmer does resign, many people inside Labour anticipate a “coronation” – meaning Burnham would be the only candidate to replace him
• That could mean he takes over by late September, around the Labour conference – but some of his supporters think that timetable is too slow

• 1:10 What’s happening at No 10 this morning? 00:01:10, play video What’s happening at No 10 this morning?
• 0:51 Podium and speakers carried out of No 10. 00:00:51, play video Podium and speakers carried out of No 10
• 0:20 Media wait for Starmer. 00:00:20, play video Media wait for Starmer
• 0:57 Minister: PM is thinking about how to respond. 00:00:57, play video Minister: PM is thinking about how to respond
• 0:54 Chris Mason on the PM’s draining authority. 00:00:54, play video Chris Mason on the PM’s draining authority
• 0:51 Biographer says PM is thinking about the country. 00:00:51, play video Biographer says PM is thinking about the country
• 1:15 How does a Labour leadership contest work? 00:01:15, play video How does a Labour leadership contest work?
• 0:32 The moment Andy Burnham won Makerfield by-election. 00:00:32, play video The moment Andy Burnham won Makerfield by-election
• 1:18 Starmer last week: Leadership challenges ‘wrong’ 00:01:18, play video Starmer last week: Leadership challenges ‘wrong’

Live Reporting

Starmer says he restored trust on economy and defence

Before he announced his resignation, Starmer said he inherited Labour Party that was “politically, financially and morally bankrupt”.

He says he was told “time and time again” that the party was “finished”, but says he “proved those people wrong”.

He says he changed the party by “ripping out the poison of anti-Semitism”.

“Restoring trust on the economy, defence and national security,” he adds.

Keir Starmer says he’ll resign as prime minister

Keir Starmer has announced he will resign as prime minister and leader of the Labour Party.

Starmer says entering Downing Street in 2024 ‘proudest moment’ of his life

Keir Starmer exits No 10 with his wife to cheers and applause.

Walking up Downing Street two years ago was the proudest moment of my life, he says.

He says he came into politics for the chance to change the lives of millions of people for the better.

Starmer then outlines the journey that saw Labour take power in July 2024.

It’s remarkable that the PM is on the way out two years after Labour’s general election win

The prime minister is setting out the ways in which he changed the Labour Party.

There is no doubt the victory he oversaw at the general election was a massive achievement.

That’s why it’s so remarkable that two years on, the PM is on the way out.

Keir Starmer steps out to make Downing Street statement

Keir Starmer has stepped out to make a statement on Downing Street.

You can watch what he says live at the top of this page.

David Lammy among those gathered on Downing Street

A number of cabinet ministers – including the Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy – are outside Number 11 Downing Street to watch Keir Starmer’s statement.

Downing Street staff outside ahead of expected statement

The prime minister’s top team have come out into Downing Street. The lectern is out.

Starmer’s announcement is imminent.

The lectern is out on Downing Street

The lectern is out. The moment is imminent. Perhaps inside ten minutes, one source tells me.

Staff are gathering to watch — for many a sad moment personally as well as politically, losing their jobs as the prime minister loses his.

PM resignation statement may be imminent

Again, we don’t have confirmation of this, but I think pretty well the only reason the prime minister would be making a statement in Downing Street this morning is because he’s resigning.

Preparations are under way on Downing Street

Downing Street staff have just brought speakers out into the street. The preparations for a prime ministerial statement are beginning.

No 10 team remains quiet this morning

We are still waiting for confirmation (or otherwise) of whether the prime minister will resign today. That’s the overwhelming expectation in Westminster.

The No 10 team remains very quiet this morning.

It’s worth remembering though; if Keir Starmer doesn’t confirm his departure soon, there are plenty of Labour MPs prepared to try and force it.

Starmer has seen the ‘writing on the wall’, says MP

Labour MP and Andy Burnham supporter, Anna Dixon, says she wants Starmer to step down without a leadership contest being triggered.

“I think it’s clear now that the PM recognises it’s time to go, I think he’s seen the writing on the wall,” she tells Radio 4’s Today programme.

She says she hopes Starmer will set out timetable for transition “whether that’s in weeks or months”, in order to “preserve stability for the country”.

Dixon says its important for the country to have a “smooth handover”, but says it does not need to see leadership hopefuls “pull each other apart” in debates.

Asked if that means she wants to see Burnham given the job without a contest, Dixon says Burnham has “already shown he’s a very successful politician for some 25 years”.

“He’s sat round the cabinet table previously… he’s run a major city as mayor for nine years, so I think he has been tested.”

I don’t expect Starmer to stick around in politics, biographer says

If Keir Starmer announces his resignation today, his biographer suggests the PM could quit politics altogether.

Journalist Tom Baldwin tells the BBC that no-one knows what decision Keir Starmer will make today, but emphasises he is a “very private, very intensely emotional man making one of the very biggest decisions of his life”.

Baldwin suggests Starmer feels “deeply frustrated” by the fact Labour’s achievements might be clouded by the challenge to his leadership, adding: “I think he’s hurt by some of the behaviour of people around him, some of the people he trusted, who he gave jobs to.”

“If Keir Starmer does decide to leave – and I don’t know what he’s going to do – I don’t think he’s going to stick around in politics for long,” he says.

“For him it’s always been something he needs to endure rather than do out of love.”

Burnham to be sworn in as MP at Westminster

Andy Burnham is due in Westminster to be sworn in as Makerfield’s new MP later today, following his victory in last week’s by-election.

Douglas Lumsden, the new Conservative MP for Aberdeen South, and Lara Bird, who was elected as the SNP’s new MP for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry – both of whom were also elected in separate by-elections last week – are also expected at the House of Commons .

No cabinet minister backing Starmer this morning, and that tells a story

No disrespect to Jacqui Smith, who’s a very distinguished, experienced figure, but if Keir Starmer were fighting on, I would expect a member of the cabinet to be out there batting for him this morning.

They’re not and I think that does tell a bit of a story.

Minister: Starmer ‘reflecting’ on challenge to role

Skills minister Baroness Jacqui Smith says Keir Starmer has spent the weekend “governing” as she’s asked whether she expects him to resign today.

“This is a period of time when there is a challenge to the prime minister,” Smith accepts.

“He is reflecting on that, he’s thinking about how to respond to it.”

Pressed further on whether Starmer might step down to allow Andy Burnham to become prime minister without a leadership contest, Smith says he should be afforded the “time and space” to consider the country’s best interests and carry on the “process of government”.

PM stepping down would be ‘right thing to do’, says former minister

Former health minister Zubir Ahmed says he believes Prime Minister Keir Starmer setting out a timetable for him to step down is “the right thing to do”.

Last month, Ahmed – an ally of Wes Streeting – resigned his ministerial role after having “lost confidence” in Starmer as PM.

“I think what’s been happening over the weekend… is that he has been reflecting – cabinet colleagues have been telling him that the current situation is unsustainable,” Ahmed tells Radio 4’s Today programme.

“It sounds like we’re slowly getting to a point where the PM is going to set out a timetable to allow for an orderly transition to new leadership,” he says.

“I think that’s the right thing to do.”

No general election needed if Starmer leaves, says Tory shadow minister

There is no need for the government to call a general election if Starmer is ousted as prime minister, says Conservative shadow Northern Ireland secretary Alex Burghart.

Asked if the Conservatives will call for such a general election, Burhghart tells Radio 4’s Today programme: “No, look, constitutionally there doesn’t have to be a general election. You can change prime minister.”

Burhghart, who earlier spoke to BBC Breakfast, adds that “what matters is that the prime minister has the support of MPs in Parliament”.

However, he adds that if a general election is called, his party is “ready for it”.

Who could be in big jobs if Burnham becomes PM?

Louise Haigh: The former transport secretary was the first of Keir Starmer’s cabinet ministers to quit, after it emerged in November 2024 that she had a fraud conviction prior to entering parliament. On the backbenches she emerged as a crucial power broker on Labour’s “soft left” and has been a major figure in Burnham’s Makerfield campaign.

Anneliese Midgley: Midgley has been Knowsley MP since 2024. She previously worked for Starmer’s office in opposition following stints at the TUC, Unite and in former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s team. She is seen as a plausible candidate for chief whip or even to be the political secretary in Downing Street.

Miatta Fahnbulleh: She resigned as a junior minister for communities in the aftermath of the May elections. Since then she has been working on policy ideas for a potential Burnham government.

Josh Simons: He’s the man who gave up his seat for Burnham. Simons is said to have been helping Team Burnham on policy, though he has a different ideological background to Fahnbulleh, and is seen as a likely candidate for a role in a Burnham Downing Street.

Source: BBC