Starmer quits as Labour leader and paves way for contest for new prime minister

Sir Keir Starmer has said he will quit as Labour Party leader, paving the way for a contest to decide a new prime minister.

Speaking in Downing Street, Sir Keir said he accepted he was not best placed to lead Labour into the next general election and he had informed the King of his decision to step down.

Sir Keir added he has asked Labour's governing body to set out a timetable to replace him, with nominations opening on 9 July and ending by the summer recess on 16 July.

He said if there was a contest then a new leader would be in place before Parliament returns in September, and he will "do everything" he can to ensure an "orderly" transition of power.

Sir Keir said he would remain as prime minister until the leadership contest is complete.

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

Sir Keir was elected leader of the Labour Party in April 2020 and became prime minister on 5 July 2024 following Labour's general election victory.

His decision to step down means the UK will soon have its seventh prime minister since 2016.

Sir Keir was accompanied by his wife, Victoria, as he walked out of 10 Downing Street to deliver his resignation speech.

Watched by his supporters, colleagues and No 10 staff, Sir Keir's voice cracked with emotion as he spoke of what his focus will be on next.

He said: "When I leave the biggest job in the country, 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."

Sir Keir had spent the weekend mulling over his future at Chequers, the prime minister's country residence in Buckinghamshire.

Burnham is expected to travel to Westminster on Monday to formally take up his seat as an MP.

Sir Keir's decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US also led to questions about his judgement and the wider Downing Street operation.

Lord Mandelson was sacked after new information came to light about the depth of his relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Sir Keir opened his resignation speech by defending his record in government, including on employment rights, immigration and child poverty.

He also argued that he had changed Labour after inheriting a party that was "politically, financially and morally bankrupt".

Sir Keir said: "The hard work of change was with a singular purpose – not power for power's sake but to change Britain for the better, to build a fairer country with dignity and respect, where everyone is seen, everyone is valued, wealth and opportunity for all not just the privileged few."

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch described Sir Keir as a "terrible prime minister" and attacked his policies, including the rise in employer National Insurance contributions and "giving up on real welfare reform".

She wrote on X: "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."

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said the British people were "sick of being let down by an endless merry-go-round of prime ministers while nothing really changes".

He said: "This time must be different. It can't just be about changing who's in Number 10, it has to be about changing our broken politics so we can fix our country."

Reform leader Nigel Farage demanded a general election, saying: "If Labour thinks it can shove another professional politician into No 10, it has another thing coming."

Green Party leader Zack Polanski said the country "needs a bold change of direction", adding Sir Keir "lost the confidence of the country because of his abject failure to challenge the power and wealth of an establishment".