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."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.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.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."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.EU chief Ursula von der Leyen praised Starmer for bolstering "European" security after he announced his resignation."It can take many leaders years to grow into the statesman you became in just two years. European and Ukrainian security is stronger because of you. Thank you, dear Keir," the European Commission president posted online.Multiple scandalsUntil 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.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.But Britain is now set to get its seventh prime minister in a decade.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.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.But his term was derailed by missteps ranging from benefits cuts to criticism over defence spending plans.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.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.The BBC earlier said "signs are growing" that Starmer could set out a plan to resign on Monday, while papers splashed with headlines like "Game Over".Even US President Donald Trump was predicting Starmer's imminent departure from Downing Street, writing on Sunday on his Truth Social platform: "Keir Starmer will resign".The American leader, who initially enjoyed a good rapport with Starmer before the Iran war ruptured the relationship, said Starmer had failed on immigration and energy policies.Burnham - Greater Manchester mayor since 2017 - has made clear he intends to bid to lead slumping Labour, warning in his by-election victory speech the ruling party had a "final chance to change".If successful, the 56-year-old could become prime minister by default unless there are any other challengers for the post, given that Labour has a huge parliamentary majority.Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper was among the senior ministers telling her boss to go, according to Sky News, while more than 100 of Labour's 403 MPs have reportedly urged him to resign.Starmer, who took office in July 2024, has been clinging to power for months after a tenure littered with missteps, policy U-turns, scandals and ministerial resignations.He was nearly ousted in March, over his ill-fated decision to appoint Peter Mandelson, a known associate of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as the UK's ambassador to Washington.Labour's drubbing in local and regional polls in England, Scotland and Wales last month once again intensified the pressure.The fallout from the May polls saw Makerfield's previous Labour MP quit, gifting Burnham a path to becoming an MP, and challenge Starmer for the party leadership.A former MP and government minister in the 2000s, Burnham defied national trends by easily beating the hard-right, populist Reform UK party's candidate.Burnham, from the so-called soft-left wing of Labour, has provided little detail about his plans for government if he wins power.UK media say he intends to replace finance minister Rachel Reeves, while retaining interior minister Shabana Mahmood.- AFP