British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced June 22 that he will resign as Labour Party leader and step down as prime minister once his successor is chosen, ending a turbulent premiership after less than two years in office.
Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, the officeholder’s official residence, Starmer said he will ask Labour’s national executive committee to open nominations for a new leader July 9 and close them before Parliament’s summer recess July 16.
"New leader will be in place before Parliament returns in September, I will remain in post until the contest is complete"
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) June 22, 2026
Keir Starmer announces he will resign as UK prime minister and leader of the Labour Party
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“In the case of a contest, this will ensure a new leader is in place before Parliament returns in September,” Starmer said, adding that he had informed King Charles III of his decision.
Starmer said he will remain in office until the leadership contest is complete and will “do everything” he can to ensure “an orderly handover of power.”
The announcement followed mounting pressure inside the Labour Party over Starmer’s leadership, weak polling, and a series of political setbacks. Starmer said the party had asked “whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election” and that he had “heard the answer.”
“I accept that answer with good grace,” he said.
Starmer, who became Labour leader in April 2020 and prime minister in July 2024, is set to leave office as the shortest-serving Labour prime minister in history, according to the BBC.
An Ipsos poll conducted June 12-16 found that 52% of the British public believed Starmer should stand down as prime minister and Labour leader, while 35% said he should continue. The same poll found that 67% said Starmer should not lead the party into the next general election.
Starmer’s leadership was damaged by his appointment of Peter Mandelson as British ambassador to the U.S. Starmer later dismissed Mandelson and apologized after revelations about Mandelson’s ties to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Mandelson was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office in connection with alleged communication with Epstein, as Zeale News previously reported.
President Donald Trump, who has criticized Starmer in recent months over his refusal to support U.S. military operations in Iran, said in a June 21 Truth Social post that Starmer was resigning.
“He failed badly on two very important subjects- IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!),” Trump said of Starmer. “I wish him well!”
Starmer’s announcement also comes days after Andy Burnham, a Labour politician and former mayor of Greater Manchester, won a special election for a parliamentary seat in Makerfield. Burnham, who is widely viewed as more left-leaning than Starmer, has campaigned on a more populist economic message, according to the New York Post.
In a June 22 X post, Burnham said he would enter the race to succeed Starmer.
Keir has given huge service to our country and I want to thank him for his leadership and dedication during such a challenging period.
— Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) June 22, 2026
His decision marks the beginning of a transition and it is important that this process is conducted in an orderly and responsible way. I will…
“As we move forward, our priority must be to work together to get the country back to where we all want it to be. People want to see progress on economic growth, cost of living, public services, housing and opportunities for the next generation,” Burnham said. “Political change should never distract from the responsibility to improve people's lives.”