In the immediate aftermath of Andy Burnham’s decisive win over Reform in the Makerfield by-election, Sir Keir Starmer insisted he was not going to “walk away” from the job.
He has repeated this mantra ever since Labour’s disastrous performance in the local and devolved administration elections last month, claiming he would fight any leadership challenge.
The Prime Minister had embarked on a fightback, announcing a new legislative agenda in the King’s Speech, setting out a social media ban for under-16s and putting a renewed focus on security.
But it was not enough to convince scores of Labour MPs that he had what it takes to carry the party to the next election in just three years’ time.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announces he is resigning in a speech in Downing Street (Photo: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)
