UK Prime Minister Starmer Announces Resignation Nearly Two Years After Taking Office

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation nearly two years after leading the Labour Party to a landslide victory in the 2024 general election and returning the party to power.

Starmer made the announcement in a public address outside 10 Downing Street in London on June 22. He said he had spoken with the king earlier that morning to inform him of his decision.

Starmer took office on July 5, 2024, a day after leading Labour to victory in the July 4 general election. Labour's overwhelming win ended a change in government.

He also laid out the process for selecting his successor. Starmer said he would ask Labour's National Executive Committee to set a timetable beginning nominations for party leader on July 9 and completing the process before Parliament's summer recess.

His plan is to have a new Labour leader in place before Parliament reconvenes in September. In the UK, the leader of the ruling party serves as prime minister, making the Labour leadership contest effectively the process to choose the next premier.

Starmer said he would remain prime minister until a successor is chosen. He added that he would stay in office until the leadership race concludes and do everything necessary to ensure an orderly transfer of power. He also pledged his full support to his successor.

Starmer became Labour leader in 2020 and led the party back into government with its 2024 election victory. Since taking office, however, his approval ratings have fallen as disappointment mounted over an economic slowdown, a series of policy reversals and the slow pace of reform.

Labour's crushing defeat in local elections early last month was seen as a decisive factor in his decision to step down. The result confirmed dissatisfaction with his administration and appears to have increased pressure within the party for a leadership change.

Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, is emerging as a leading contender to become the next Labour leader and prime minister. Burnham won a by-election for a House of Commons seat in the Makerfield constituency on June 18, giving him the minimum qualification to become prime minister and positioning him for a leadership bid.

Kim Dae-young, Hankyung.com reporter kdy@hankyung.com