Main Points Keir Starmer has this morning announced his decision to resign as British prime minister Speaking from Downing Street, Starmer said: ‘Every decision I’ve taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party’The move likely clears the way for Andy Burnham to become prime minister by the autumn or possibly as early as July 17th if there is no leadership contestFormer mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham comfortably took a seat in the Makerfield byelection, defeating a Reform candidate Wes Streeting has said he will not contest the Labour leadership against Andy BurnhamBurnham will be formally sworn in as an MP today Key Reads Analysis: Can Andy Burnham be a better prime minister than Keir Starmer?Andy Burnham’s Britain appears to be moving towards reality. What would it look like?Denis Staunton: They’ll say Starmer was a triumph on the world stage. It’s not trueRonan McGreevy - 1 minute agoScottish First Minister says new Labour PM must ‘face reality’ Sir Keir Starmer made the “right decision” to quit, John Swinney said, with Scotland’s First Minister insisting it was “past time” for the Labour leader to “face reality”.With Sir Keir now departing Downing Street – becoming the sixth prime minister in 10 years to do so – Swinney said there was now “some hope that things can change”.But he insisted that rather than simply a change of personnel – with Andy Burnham now the most likely candidate to become the next incumbent at Number 10 – what is needed is a “fundamental change of direction”.“Labour’s time in power has been characterised by broken promises, poor judgment and, ultimately, failure,” Swinney said. “Instead of supporting those who are struggling to pay their bills and put food on the table, the Labour Party has continued the instability and infighting for which Westminster is known, and there seems to be no end in sight.”He added that “people will rightly be frustrated and embarrassed that the UK’s sixth Prime Minister in 10 years once again failed to get to grips with the challenges facing this country” with Swinney saying there was “no reason to believe the seventh will be any different”.Ronan McGreevy - 5 minutes agoStarmer legacy criticised by DUP leader Keir Starmer is “leaving behind a record of unfulfilled promises” in terms of Northern Ireland, DUP leader Gavin Robinson has said.“He failed to deal with the root cause of the problems created by the (Northern Ireland) Protocol and Windsor Framework, namely restoring Northern Ireland’s full place within the United Kingdom and ending the application of EU laws over part of our country,” he said.“His government also failed to secure our borders at a time of growing public concern about illegal migration.“Whoever succeeds Sir Keir Starmer must fund Northern Ireland properly, back those who work, restore confidence in our borders, and deliver policies that strengthen the United Kingdom rather than weaken it.”On a personal level, Robinson said he wished Starmer and his family well.“I met Sir Keir on many occasions and always found him courteous and professional in our dealings. While we often disagreed, those disagreements were about policy rather than personality,” he added.Ronan McGreevy - 23 minutes agoDid Streeting coordinate endorsement with Burnham? Mark Paul writes: In the last few minutes it has emerged that Wes Streeting, the former health secretary, and Burnham have seemingly done a deal that could see the former Greater Manchester mayor installed in Downing Street by July 17th.Burnham announced on his page on the social media platform X that he would take part in the Labour leadership process, for which nominations open on July 9th. Minutes later, in what appeared to be a co-ordinated post, Streeting announced on X that “after speaking at length with Andy in recent days” he was backing Burnham.He is seen as likely to get one of the UK’s four big offices as state as a reward for joining forces with Burnham. With Shabana Mahmood expected to stay as home secretary and Burnham aiming to be prime minister, that suggests Streeting is likely to have negotiated one of the remaining two, foreign secretary or chancellor. It is also possible, of course, that he hasn’t been offered any role at all and simply accepted that he wouldn’t beat Burnham.Streeting was seen as Burnham’s only real semi-credible rival for the leadership. Barring the shock entry of another candidate into the race, that means Burnham could be elected Labour leader unopposed when nominations close on July 17th, when parliament goes into recess.By mid-July, it seems, the so-called “King of the North” Burnham is likely to be on his way to Buckingham Palace to meet the real king, Charles III, to ask him for permission to form a government.Ronan McGreevy - 38 minutes agoStreeting endorsement paves the way for Burnham coronation Wes Streeting has said he will not contest the Labour leadership against Andy Burnham. Instead, Streeting, the former UK health secretary who triggered the leadership crisis by resigning from government, said he will support Burnham in any electoral contest. This is likely to accelerate Burnham’s elevation to the highest post in British politics. Had there been a contest, it could have gone into September. It’s more than likely Burnham will be prime minister by the middle of next month. Streeting said Burnham’s comprehensive victory in the Makerfield by-election has “proven that Labour can still win if we have the courage to change. It was a victory for unity and hope over division and hatred.”He added: “It was also Andy Burnham’s victory. Andy has shown what Labour can be when we are inclusive, united, and in touch with the lives of the people this Party was founded to represent.“I left the government because we were losing the fight to nationalists in every corner of the country. I have spent the weeks since speaking to our former councillors, activists and voters in place we lost - to listen and learn from them.“Having spoken at length with Andy in recent days, I’m convinced that there is a place for those ideas under his leadership; that he is committed to building an inclusive party that draws on the best of our political traditions; and that he can win the fight of our lives against the forces of nationalism.“We could spend the summer exaggerating small differences, or we can roll up our sleeves and help him to deliver the change our party and our country needs. That is the choice that I am making and I hope that everyone else will back Andy, too.After the chaos of #Brexit, @Keir_Starmer brought some stability.The damage caused by Cameron, Johnson and Farage will take years to fix.The UK is a major part of Europe. We want them back in the EU 🇬🇧🇪🇺.Political stability is step one. pic.twitter.com/8CfbYBO5Ny— Barry Andrews MEP (@BarryAndrewsMEP) June 22, 2026