Starmer Resigns As Labour Leader And Announces A Timetable For His Departure As PM

Keir Starmer has set out a timetable for his departure as prime minister after resigning as leader of the Labour Party.

In a statement delivered on Downing Street on Monday morning, the prime minister said his party has been asked if he is best placed to lead us into the next general election.

“I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question and I accept that answer with good grace,” he said. “Every decision I’ve taken has been about putting the country I love first.

“That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party.

“I have spoken to His Majesty the King this morning to inform him of my decision.”

Starmer said the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party will set out a timetable to make sure a new leader is in place by the time parliament returns after its summer recess.

Nominations will open for the leadership on July 9, a week before parliament’s summer recess, and they will close on July 16.

If there is a contest, it will be completed by September 1 when MPs return to Westminster.

If there is not a contest, the UK could have a new prime minister by July 17.

Until his successor is in place – either once nominations close or after a summer contest – he will remain in post as prime minister, Starmer said.

“I will give my successor my full and unequivocal support,” he said.

Tearing up, the prime minister said he will focus on the “most important job”, adding: “Being the best husband I can, to my fantastic wife Vic, who has been a rock by my side through good times and bad.”

He continued: “And being the best dad that I can to my beautiful children, who are my pride and joy.”

The prime minister’s announcement comes after Andy Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield by-election last Friday.

The soon-to-be-former Greater Manchester mayor is Starmer’s greatest rival and has had his eye on the keys to No.10 for some time.

Burnham was widely expected to challenge Starmer’s leadership after winning the contest for the north-west seat.

Labour Party rules state only an MP with the support of 81 other MPs can fire the starting gun on a leadership challenge.

Burnham had been pushing for Starmer to step down quietly so it would be a coronation for the new Makerfield MP.

The prime minister initially refused, saying he would fight on. 

Asked if he would stand in any possible leadership election on Friday morning, Starmer said “there isn’t one at the moment” and that holding one would send “the country into chaos”.

But he added: “If there is a contest, then yes I will run, I will stand, and I’ve said repeatedly I’m not going to walk away from that.”

However, pressure from his own cabinet ministers appears to have moved the needle.

Energy secretary Ed Miliband, home secretary Shabana Mahmood, transport secretary Heidi Alexander, chief whip Jonathan Reynolds, foreign secretary Yvette Cooper and Scotland secretary Douglas Alexander have reportedly urged their boss to step aside behind closed doors.

Two former cabinet ministers, Wes Streeting and John Healey, also quit over Starmer’s leadership in the last month.

Business and trade secretary Peter Kyle revealed his boss was weighing up the “political realities” in the coming days on Sunday.

It now remains to be seen if anyone other than Burnham will throw their hat into the ring to be the next Labour leader.

Streeting, the former health secretary, did indicate he would run but there are concerns he does not have enough backing from Labour MPs to run.

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