{"id":885057,"date":"2026-06-22T14:51:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T14:51:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/885057\/"},"modified":"2026-06-22T14:51:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T14:51:16","slug":"british-prime-minister-keir-starmer-to-step-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/885057\/","title":{"rendered":"British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to step down"},"content":{"rendered":"

LONDON (AP) \u2014 British Prime Minister Keir Starmer<\/a> said Monday he will resign, forced out by his own party after missteps and mistakes soured voters\u2019 goodwill following a landslide election victory two years ago on a promise of steady leadership and economic growth.<\/p>\n

Starmer says he will remain caretaker prime minister until his Labour Party chooses a new leader \u2014 with expectations growing that it will be former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Burnham confirmed on social media that \u201cI will put myself forward as part of this process.\u201d Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting<\/a>, who was considered his main rival for the top job, said he will back Burnham.<\/p>\n

It was Burnham\u2019s victory in a special parliamentary election last week that triggered Starmer\u2019s decision to resign, as Labour lawmakers flocked to the charismatic former mayor in the hope he can revive the party\u2019s fortunes. After nearly a decade as mayor of the northwestern city, Burnham returned Monday to Parliament, where he took the oath of office in the House of Commons.<\/p>\n

The 56-year-old politician presents himself as an amiable northern everyman who prefers T-shirts to a suit and tie and spends spare time playing soccer or spinning 1990s tunes during DJ battles. He\u2019s also an experienced politician whose career has taken him from high-level government jobs to the mayoralty of Greater Manchester. He\u2019s now expected to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer after winning a seat in Parliament in a special election he hailed as a \u201cturning point\u201d for U.K. politics. (Produced by Joana Mateus)<\/p>\n

Only members of Parliament are eligible for the party leadership. <\/p>\n

Streeting\u2019s statement makes it more likely that Burnham will be selected without a leadership contest.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Britain's<\/p>\n

Britain\u2019s Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces his resignation to the media outside 10 Downing Street in London, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP Photo\/Kin Cheung)<\/p>\n

Britain\u2019s Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces his resignation to the media outside 10 Downing Street in London, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP Photo\/Kin Cheung)<\/p>\n

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Britain\u2019s next election does not have to be held until 2029. Asked if he would call an early vote if he becomes prime minister, Burnham said: \u201cYou\u2019re jumping several hurdles ahead there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Starmer is the sixth prime minister in a decade to stand outside No. 10 Downing St., and announce a premature departure. His statement came the day before Britain marks the 10th anniversary of its vote to leave the European Union<\/a>, a decision that still roils the country\u2019s economy<\/a> and politics.<\/p>\n

After weeks of insisting he would fight to keep his job, Starmer conceded to growing pressure to hand over to a new leader who can try and revive the government\u2019s flagging fortunes. He led Labour to a landslide election victory<\/a> in July 2024, but since then his popularity and that of the party have plummeted. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"British<\/p>\n

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks to members of the media in Rome, Sept. 16, 2024. (Phil Noble\/Pool Photo via AP, File)<\/p>\n

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks to members of the media in Rome, Sept. 16, 2024. (Phil Noble\/Pool Photo via AP, File)<\/p>\n

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A new leader in place within weeks<\/p>\n

Starmer made the announcement outside his official residence, where he delivered his first speech as prime minister two years ago. His voice choked with emotion near the end of the brief statement, which was watched by his staff, Cabinet ministers and scores of journalists.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election,\u201d Starmer said. \u201cI have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question, and I accept that answer with good grace.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said he spoke to King Charles III, Britain\u2019s constitutional monarch, to inform him of the decision.<\/p>\n

Starmer spent the weekend pondering his future following Burnham\u2019s special election<\/a> victory. <\/p>\n

Starmer said nominations for a leadership contest will open July 9, and the new leader will be in place by the time Parliament returns from its summer break on Sept. 1.<\/p>\n

If Burnham is the only candidate, the change could come by mid-July.<\/p>\n

Starmer struggled to fulfill election pledges<\/p>\n

Starmer has struggled to deliver promised economic growth, repair tattered public services<\/a> and ease the cost of living. He has been hamstrung by repeated missteps<\/a>, including his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson<\/a>, a scandal-tarnished friend of Jeffrey Epstein, as U.K. ambassador to the United States.<\/p>\n

Labour is losing liberal voters to the growing Green Party and facing a rising Reform UK<\/a>, the Nigel Farage<\/a> -led anti-immigration party that consistently leads in nationwide opinion polls.<\/p>\n

U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in even before an announcement, linking Starmer\u2019s exit to two of the Republican leader\u2019s recurring grievances: immigration and renewable energy.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom. He failed badly on two very important subjects- IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well! President DJT,\u201d Trump posted on his social media platform.<\/p>\n

Starmer\u2019s initially warm relationship with Trump has soured in recent months over issues including the Iran war<\/a>, which the U.K. didn\u2019t join.<\/p>\n

Praised on the world stage<\/p>\n

In contrast to missteps domestically, Starmer has won praise for his international role, notably in rallying European support for Ukraine<\/a> in its fight against Russia\u2019s invasion, and working to mitigate<\/a> the economic and political turmoil unleashed by the Iran conflict.<\/p>\n

A NATO summit in Turkey next month may be his last foray on the world stage as Britain\u2019s leader.<\/p>\n

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, posting on X, thanked Starmer for his support and cooperation \u201cthat have helped make our Europe and our protection of life stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Starmer\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt can take many leaders years to grow into the statesman you became in just two years,\u201d she said on X. \u201cEuropean and Ukrainian security is stronger because of you. Thank you, dear Keir.\u201d<\/p>\n

While many Labour lawmakers have rallied behind Burnham, some have said that Starmer had been treated unfairly. London legislator Neil Coyle railed on X against \u201cthe prospect of an utter stitch-up & the media circus being rewarded.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many hope Burnham can connect with voters<\/p>\n

Burnham is the front-runner to succeed Starmer because many people see him as the best person to defeat the anti-immigration Reform Party at the next election, said Olivia O\u2019Sullivan, an analyst at London\u2019s Chatham House think tank.<\/p>\n

Burnham appeals to Labour Party lawmakers who were frustrated by the way Starmer has governed, O\u2019Sullivan said. Many hope that he will set out a \u201cclearer vision\u201d and connect with voters in parts of the country that are in danger of turning to Reform.<\/p>\n

Still, O\u2019Sullivan cautioned that may not translate into genuine change.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s absolutely correct that that is not the same thing as offering a radically different set of policies or even a particularly clear policy program,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

Associated Press writers Danica Kirka in London and Sam McNeil in Brussels contributed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"LONDON (AP) \u2014 British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday he will resign, forced out by his own…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":885058,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5],"tags":[7373,240561,3881,64,69,90,57,86,409,83,6087,15053,17723,45981,2676,6936,359276,50,25930,130463,45805,80,273,376,4338,2856,3656,35039,103,107],"class_list":["post-885057","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world","tag-2026-elections","tag-andy-burnham","tag-ap-top-news","tag-business","tag-donald-trump","tag-elections","tag-general-news","tag-government-policy","tag-immigration","tag-iran","tag-iran-war","tag-jeffrey-epstein","tag-keir-starmer","tag-king-charles-iii","tag-london","tag-manchester","tag-neil-coyle","tag-news","tag-nigel-farage","tag-olivia-osullivan","tag-peter-mandelson","tag-politics","tag-ukraine","tag-united-kingdom","tag-united-kingdom-government","tag-ursula-von-der-leyen","tag-volodymyr-zelenskyy","tag-wes-streeting","tag-world","tag-world-news"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116794327575703636","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/885057","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=885057"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/885057\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/885058"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=885057"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=885057"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=885057"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}