UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Announces Resignation
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he's stepping down. His decision follows a series of local election losses, and growing rebellion from within his Labour party.
UK PM Announces Resignation
REPORTER:
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced his resignation following a steep drop in popularity.
Keir Starmer (UK PRIME MINISTER):
Every decision I've taken is about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour party. 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.
REPORTER:
Starmer’s announcement comes after a series of local election losses, and growing rebellion from within his Labour party. It comes less than two years after he won a landslide election victory on a promise to end the chaos in British politics. Starmer said he’d informed the King of his decision, and that he would support whoever replaces him.
REPORTER:
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday (June 22) he would resign, with a new leader to be in place by the time parliament returns in September.
REPORTER:
Less than two years after he won a landslide election victory that promised to end chaos in British politics, Starmer said he would support whoever replaced him.
REPORTER:
The threat to Starmer, which had been building for months, increased sharply on Friday when Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, decisively won a parliamentary election to return to Westminster, beating a candidate from Nigel Farage's Reform UK party, which has led national opinion polls for more than a year.
REPORTER:
That victory gave hope to Labour lawmakers that Burnham, a career politician known for his communication skills, could transform the fortunes of a party that has lost support under Starmer, whose popularity ratings have sunk to the lowest for any British leader.
