U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday, bringing an end to a turbulent tenure marked by record-low approval ratings and internal party strife.
Starmer, who led the Labour Party to a landslide victory in July 2024, submitted his resignation to King Charles III on Monday morning after mounting scandals and the sweeping victory of former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham in a by-election to enter Parliament as the new MP of Makerfield. Burnham is highly tipped to succeed Starmer as Prime Minister following a wave of internal support, and could take over as early as September.
A stoic Starmer addressed the nation at 10 Downing Street, beginning his speech by recounting the high points during his two years in office. “Look at what we’ve achieved in just two years: an economy that is stronger, growing faster than our peers, wages rising fast with inflation every single month since we came to power. Investments secured, infrastructure being built. An end to austerity, with the fastest fall in NHS waiting lists for 17 years. The biggest improvements in rights for workers and renters in a generation. The biggest uplift in defense spending since the Cold War. Small boat crossings falling, asylum hotels closing, protecting young people from social media, and half a million children being lifted out of property because of the choices that I made.”
