LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday that he would resign as the leader of his party and as prime minister, setting up the country’s seventh prime minister in the last decade.
Starmer said he spoke with King Charles earlier in the day and said he expects to remain in office until a successor is chosen from within his Labour Party.
“The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election,” Starmer said, as he spoke in front of supporters and a bevy of journalists outside No. 10 Downing St. “I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question, and I accept that answer with good grace.”
Starmer said he asked party leaders to open nominations for a successor on July 9.
The resignation announcement followed months of turmoil for Starmer, with some members of his own party criticizing his leadership, saying he had not been able to deliver the rapid change needed after taking office two years ago.
Starmer touted his achievements, including what he said was a stronger economy and higher wages, improvement in workers’ rights, bigger defense budgets and lifting a million children out of poverty — all “because of the choices that I made.”
“Every decision I have taken has been about putting the country I love first,” Starmer said. “That is why I will resign.”
Starmer’s likely successor is Andy Burnham, the popular ex-mayor of Greater Manchester who secured a return to Parliament last week.
Burnham, who won a special election on Friday to become a member of parliament representing Makerfield, was expected to be sworn in in the House of Commons on Monday.
Following Starmer’s announcement, Burnham said on social media that he would seek a nomination in the Labour leadership contest.
“People want to see progress on economic growth, cost of living, public services, housing and opportunities for the next generation,” he said. “Political change should never distract from the responsibility to improve people’s lives.”
