See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 10:06 BST, 24 June 2026 | Updated: 10:09 BST, 24 June 2026
Keir Starmer is bracing for an humiliating PMQs today amid rumours he could pitch to head up the United Nations.The premier finally announced his departure on Monday as Labour MPs flocked to rival Andy Burnham - who is now expected to take over within weeks.Having dodged making a statement to the Commons on the G7 summit, Sir Keir now faces being grilled on his demise for the first time. Labour sources believe there is little chance Sir Keir will hang around in Parliament for long after he exits Downing Street. David Cameron, Boris Johnson and Tony Blair all stood down soon after losing power, although Rishi Sunak, Theresa May and Gordon Brown all opted to stay on. As a former Director of Public Prosecutions, he could return to the bar. However, human rights lawyers at his previous base, Doughty Street Chambers, are said to have been infuriated by a speech warning that Britain risks becoming an 'island of strangers' - even though he subsequently tried to walk the comment back. Keir Starmer is bracing for an humiliating PMQs today amid rumours he could pitch to head up the United Nations next (pictured in New York in 2024) The premier finally announced his departure on Monday as Labour MPs flocked to rival Andy Burnham (pictured) - who is now expected to take over within weeksThe Government push to curb jury trials has also gone down badly with former colleagues. 'There is absolutely zero chance of Keir Starmer being welcomed back, even if he wanted to return. There is a lot of bitterness over the juries policy and the strangers comments,' one source told The Times. One lawyer close to Sir Keir suggested that he could be 'recruited for some major international role, possibly even UN secretary-general'. The current holder of the job, António Guterres - a former PM of Portugal - is due to retire by the end of this year. He is currently in the UK for a climate conference.One source told the paper Sir Keir was 'incredibly well regarded globally as a safe pair of hands, who is thoughtful and hardworking'. 'An international role won't require the showmanship of domestic politics. And everyone on the global stage thinks he's an amazing politician,' they added.One Government source pointed out that no leader of a state that is a permanent security council had ever become UN Secretary General.No10 has refused to be drawn on whether the premier will trigger a by-election. But a Labour veteran joked that Sir Keir would be the perfect candidate for the UN. 'Completely ineffectual? Tick.' Sir Keir is fighting to keep some semblance of control over the Government, although he is now blocked from announcing any radical new policies.The PM is desperate to finalise the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan before he heads to a Nato summit on July 7 - where he will meet Donald Trump.However, Mr Burnham's team are adamant that the decisions on defence spending should wait until he takes charge, likely on July 17. The current UN Chief, António Guterres - a former PM of Portugal - is due to retire by the end of this year. He is currently in the UK for a climate conference
