Keir Starmer Has Officially Quit. What Happens Now?

Keir Starmer officially resigned as leader of the Labour Party this morning while setting out a timetable for his departure as prime minister.

The PM gradually lost the support of his colleagues in the parliamentary Labour party over the last two years, following a series of unpopular policies, U-turns, and scandals engulfing some of his top team.

His premiership has come under particular pressure after his main rival, popular Labour politician Andy Burnham, won the Makerfield by-election last week.

Burnham was expected to challenge Starmer’s premiership in the coming days if he did not go of his own accord.

Starmer’s decision to voluntarily step down means Britain is on the way to its seventh prime minister in a decade.

But plenty of questions remain over just what happens next. Here’s what we know.

Starmer explained in his resignation speech that the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party will set out a timetable to make sure a new leader is in place by the start of September.

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.

To be nominated as Labour leader and de facto prime minister, an MP needs the support of at least 20% (81 MPs) of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP).

Burnham is said to exceed that threshold with plenty of support from fellow MPs.

However, there is nothing to stop other Labour MPs also throwing their hats into the ring if they also have 81 MPs backing them.

However, he backed Burnham on Monday morning, effectively pulling out of the race.

Al Carns resigned as Armed Forces minister earlier this month too, and has heavily hinted he would run.

Other names have also been thrown into the mix, including former defence secretary John Healey, former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and energy secretary Ed Miliband.

Reform UK’s Nigel Farage said it was time for a general election, writing on X: “If Labour thinks it can shove another professional politician into No.10, it has another thing coming.”

His party are leading in the polls and would likely win big if voters went to the ballot box right now.

There is no legal obligation for the government to snap general election.

The current parliamentary term does not have to end until the summer of 2029, five years on from when ex-PM Rishi Sunak called a general election.

The Conservatives swapped Boris Johnson for Liz Truss and then again for Rishi Sunak between 2019 and 2024 without going to a public vote.

Home Office minister Mike Tapp revealed he supported the idea of a general election on Sunday, writing on X: “If a change of leader is forced by its own Party then a General Election must be called.

“That would stop the constant churn and focus all politicians on delivery, instead of work place politics. These endless ‘house of cards’ games would end and the country would benefit.”

It would be at the discretion of Starmer’s successor to hold a general election.

Starmer will continue to act as prime minister until July 17 at the earliest and September 1, at the very latest.

He said he will focus on his family once leaving office, so he can be “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.”

He did not touch on whether he would stay on as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras, but tradition suggests he will – at least for the time being.

Quitting that position would trigger a by-election and risk causing further upheaval for the Labour Party.

Ex-prime minister David Cameron only stood down as the MP for Witney after his successor Theresa May was firmly in place in No.10.

Though May was ousted from office in 2019 but she continued to represent Maidenhead until she chose to stand aside in 2024.

Boris Johnson stayed on as a backbencher for Uxbridge and South Ruislip for a year after he was forced out of Downing Street.

After her short-lived spell in Downing Street, Liz Truss remained Norfolk MP until she lost to Labour at the general election.

Rishi Sunak is still the Richmond and Northallerton MP, almost two years after he lost the general election.

There has been some speculation that a successor could offer Starmer a cabinet role, but allies have suggested that is not on the cards.

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.