22/06/2026
Share:
22/06/2026
Share:
LONDON, Jun 22: Keir Starmer has announced that he will step down as prime minister and leader of the Labour Party after days of mounting pressure from Labour MPs and cabinet ministers, according to the provided report.
Starmer’s decision comes less than two years after Labour’s historic general election victory and follows growing concern within the party over its declining public support and the rising threat posed by Nigel Farage’s party ahead of the next election.
Although Starmer had insisted on Friday that he would contest any leadership challenge, discussions with senior ministers and time spent with his wife, Victoria, at Chequers over the weekend reportedly led him to reconsider. More than half a dozen cabinet ministers are understood to have privately told him that his leadership had become untenable.
Starmer is expected to remain in Downing Street until a leadership contest or transfer of power is completed.
His resignation is likely to trigger a race among Labour MPs to become the UK’s next prime minister. Andy Burnham, who recently returned to Westminster after winning the Makerfield byelection, is widely seen as a leading contender.
Other possible candidates include former health secretary Wes Streeting, though any challenger would need to secure the required number of nominations from Labour MPs. Some within the party are pushing for a full leadership contest, while others favour a swift transition to limit further political damage.
Starmer had faced months of pressure over his leadership, including criticism of policy reversals, poor personal approval ratings and concerns over Labour’s performance in recent elections. Controversies surrounding welfare cuts, winter fuel payments and political appointments also contributed to unease among MPs.
Despite praise from some quarters for his handling of international issues, including the Middle East crisis and relations with the United States, Starmer’s authority was increasingly weakened by cabinet resignations and internal divisions.
His departure marks a dramatic fall for a leader who delivered one of Labour’s largest electoral victories in modern history, winning more seats in 2024 than any Labour leader since Tony Blair’s 1997 landslide.
