Keir Starmer announces resignation in Downing Street statement

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced his resignation in a speech in Downing Street.

Pressure had been growing on the PM since Andy Burnham was elected as an MP in the Makerfield by-election.

He said he accepted with “good grace” that his party did not believe him the best person to lead it into the general election.

But he said he would stay in post until any leadership contest had concluded. 

He said: “Every decision I have taken has been about putting the country first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party.

“I will ask the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party to set out a timetable with nominations opening on 9 July and completed by the summer recess.

“In the case of a contest, this will ensure that a new leader is in place before parliament returns in September.”

Starmer said walking into Downing Street after the 2024 general election had been “the proudest moment of my life.”

And he said his government had made progress on immigration, defence spending and had “restored” Britain's reputation in the world.

He said: “I know the question being asked now is not who was best placed to change the Labour Party…the question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead it into a general election.

“I have heard the answer from my parliamentary party to that question and I accept that answer with good grace.”

The PM said he would doing everything he could to ensure an “orderly handover”.

He added: “I will also give my successor my full and unequivocal support, knowing they will inherit a Britain that is far stronger and fairer than the one I inherited two years ago.”

He fought back tears as he concluded his speech by thanking his wife and children who he said he looked forward to spending more time with. 

Wes Streeting, who had been tipped as a potential leadership contender, has thrown his support behind Burnham.

First Minister John Swinney said Starmer had “made the right decision”. Noting that “leadership is tough, and can make extraordinary demands both on the leader and their families”, Swinney said: “It was past time for him to face reality and the fact he now has allows some hope that things can change.

“However, rather than simply a change of personnel, what is needed is a fundamental change of direction. Labour’s time in power has been characterised by broken promises, poor judgement and, ultimately, failure. 

“Instead of supporting those who are struggling to pay their bills and put food on the table, the Labour Party has continued the instability and infighting for which Westminster is known, and there seems to be no end in sight.

“People will rightly be frustrated and embarrassed that the UK's sixth prime minister in 10 years once again failed to get to grips with the challenges facing this country, and there is no reason to believe the seventh will be any different.

“This is no way to govern. Scotland deserves better.”

Meanwhile, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch commented: “Britain is not ungovernable. Keir Starmer is a terrible prime minister. But the problem isn’t just Starmer. Labour MPs only want higher taxes to hand out more benefits, as the welfare secretary has pointed out. These are Labour’s choices and their values, regardless of who is running the party.”