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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces his resignation
by
Tuesday, 23 June 2026
"Walking down this street two years ago was the proudest moment of my life." Yesterday (Monday, 22nd June 2026), Keir Starmer stood in front of the black door in Downing Street, like so many before him, and announced his resignation as Prime Minister.
Keir Starmer, standing outside Number 10, announced his resignation as Prime Minister | © Wiktor Szymanowicz
It was not an entirely unexpected announcement; Keir Starmer had been facing pressure from his party for a few months now and, with key challenger Andy Burnham's recent victory in the Makerfield by-election, that pressure had only been mounting over recent days.
An emotional resignation
In his speech, Keir Starmer spoke about the Labour Party's evolution under his leadership.
Six years ago, I inherited a Labour Party that was politically, financially and morally bankrupt. I was told, time and time again, that my party was finished. [...] But we proved those people wrong because we changed our party.
He spoke of "ripping out the poison of antisemitism" and claimed to have restored "trust in the economy, defence, and national security". Tearing up, he ended his speech by saying that:
I shall spend more time on the most important job. Being the best husband I can to my fantastic wife, Vic, who has been a rock by my side, through good times and bad. And being the best dad I can to my beautiful children, who are my pride and my joy.
What happens now?
Keir Starmer's two years in office have hardly been smooth sailing for the Labour Party, who have seen their popularity rating collapse over that time. Andy Burnham, the former Greater Manchester Mayor, whose popularity rating is still considerably higher than the outgoing Prime Minister's, seems likely to inherit the job; one he has failed to obtain twice in the past.
Whether Burnham or someone else, the new Labour leader will be faced with a difficult challenge as the far-right Reform Party, but also the Liberal Democrats and, to a smaller scale, the Greens, gain traction in the polls; can the Labour Party save its reputation enough and regain the public's trust on time for the next general election?
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