Keir Starmer announces he will resign as prime minister

Keir Starmer has announced that he will resign as prime minister and leader of the Labour Party. 

In a speech delivered on Downing Street this morning, Starmer said that he accepted the verdict of his party with “good grace”. 

The outgoing prime minister’s voice cracked with emotion as he paid tribute to his wife, Victoria, and his sons. 

Starmer 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.”

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The statement came after Starmer spent the weekend at Chequers, the prime minister’s country retreat, to mull his political future. 

Starmer said that he came into politics to “change the lives of millions of people for the better” and he inherited the Labour Party in 2020 in a “morally” bankrupt state. 

Starmer maintained that he had changed his party and achieved a majority at the 2024 general election that many considered to be “impossible”. 

He stated: “But we proved those people wrong. Because we changed our party. Ripping out the poison of antisemitism, restoring trust on the economy, defence and national security and becoming a party that once again stood proudly with not against our national flag.”

Starmer went on to list a series of his achievements during his time in power. 

He declared: “An economy that is stronger, going faster than our peers, wages rising faster, an end to austerity, NHS waiting lists falling faster than at any time in 17 years…

“And half a million people being lifted out of poverty because of the choices that I made. And our reputation on the world stage restored.”

He added: “I know the question being asked of us now is not who was best-placed to change the Labour Party to take us into power and to begin the vital work of improving lives for millions of people.

“Those questions have been answered. The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election.

“I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party loud and clear and I accept that answer with good grace.”

Starmer said that nominations would open for the election of his successor on 9 July. 

He said: “In the case of a contest, this will ensure a new leader is in place before parliament returns in September. I will remain in post as prime minister until the contest is complete and I will do everything I can to ensure an orderly handover of power.”

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