Sir Keir Starmer has announced his resignation as Prime Minister a speech outside 10 Downing Street, and set out a timetable for when a replacement will assume the office.
Starmer became Prime Minister following the 2024 General Election, becoming the first Labour Prime Minister in 14 years. In his resignation speech, he described becoming Prime Minister as the proudest moment in his life.
Sir Keir Starmer confirmed that he will remain in office as Prime Minister until a successor can assume the role, and has instructed the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee to set a timetable for the party to elect a new leader. Nominations are set to open on 9th July, with the process to complete ahead of Parliament’s summer recess and ensure, should there be multiple nominees for the role, a new Prime Minister will be in place before September 2026.
The Prime Minister’s resignation follows poor local election results for the Labour Party in May 2026, a by-election loss to the Green Party in Gorton & Denton, and low opinion polling for the party.
Following his election to Parliament as MP for Makerfield on Thursday 18th June, outgoing Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has confirmed his intention to run for leadership of the Labour Party, with the former Makerfield MP Josh Simons having stood down to enable the city-region Mayor to challenge Keir Starmer’s leadership.
Former Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, had also announced his intention to challenge Sir Keir Starmer’s position when he resigned from Cabinet following May’s Local Election results; however, he has since given his backing to Andy Burnham, who will be sworn in as an MP later today (22nd June).
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