LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer won his job after leading his party to a massive victory in 2024. Less than two years later, he resigned as his party rebelled in the wake of widespread losses in local elections.Starmer’s popularity plunged amid a struggling economy, a series of policy missteps, one particularly poor appointment and a perceived lack of vision. The combination of challenges led to a thrashing for his Labour Party in local elections this spring and calls to step down that cleared a path for a would-be challenger to step forward and ultimately force him aside Monday.This is a look at how his short-lived premiership unraveled.
Victory put Labour Party in power after 14 years of Conservative ruleStarmer’s coronation on July 4, 2024 ushered in an optimism for Labour as it captured 411 of 650 seats in Parliament and drove out the Conservative Party after 14 years of rule. It was a massive turnaround from historic losses in the previous election.Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said Starmer would never be forgotten for leading the “party from the brink, back to power.” In his victory speech, Starmer spoke of national renewal and change that would restore government to support “working people.” “And now we can look forward,” he said. “Walk into the morning, the sunlight of hope, pale at first but getting stronger through the day, shining once again, on a country with the opportunity after 14 years to get its future back.”It didn’t take long for storm clouds to appear.
