British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced his resignation, bringing an end to months of mounting political pressure and uncertainty over his future.
Starmer said on Monday that he would step down as both Prime Minister and Labour Party leader, but will remain in office until a successor is chosen to ensure a smooth transition of power.
Speaking outside Downing Street, Starmer said every decision he made in office was guided by what he believed was best for Britain.
He also paid tribute to his wife, Victoria, describing her as his “rock,” and said he now wants to focus on being “the best dad” to his children.
The resignation comes after weeks of growing unrest within the Labour Party. Many Labour lawmakers had openly questioned his leadership following the party’s poor performance in local elections in May, while calls for him to step aside intensified after veteran politician Andy Burnham returned to Parliament with a convincing by-election victory.
Burnham, who has served as Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017, is widely expected to enter the race to replace Starmer. Under Labour rules, only a sitting Member of Parliament can become party leader.
Starmer’s departure marks a dramatic fall for a leader who only entered Downing Street in July 2024 after leading Labour to a landslide general election victory. Less than two years later, he leaves office amid declining public support, internal party divisions and repeated criticism over key policies.
His resignation means Britain is now set to have its seventh Prime Minister in just 10 years, highlighting the political instability that has defined recent years in Westminster.
Pressure on Starmer had grown steadily in recent months, with reports suggesting that more than 100 Labour MPs wanted him to step down. Senior ministers were also said to have privately urged him to consider his position.
Even US President Donald Trump weighed in on the situation over the weekend, predicting that Starmer would resign and criticising his record on immigration and energy policy.
With Starmer now stepping aside, attention shifts to the upcoming Labour leadership contest, which will determine who leads both the party and the country in the months ahead.
