Keir Starmer has resigned as British prime minister and leader of the Labour Party, saying he will remain in office until the party chooses his successor.
In an emotional statement outside 10 Downing Street on Monday, Starmer said every decision he had taken in office had been guided by “putting the country I love first.”
He thanked his wife, Victoria, describing her as his “rock,” and said he now wanted to focus on being the best father he could be to his children.
Starmer said he had asked Labour’s governing body to ensure a new leader is chosen before Parliament returns in September, setting the stage for a rapid succession process.
The announcement follows growing pressure inside Labour after months of declining support for the government and Andy Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield by-election last week.
Burnham, a former Greater Manchester mayor, is due to be sworn in as MP for Makerfield in Westminster on Monday afternoon. His return to Parliament has cleared the way for a possible leadership bid.
A formal leadership contest remains possible, but Burnham is widely seen as the leading contender to replace Starmer.
Starmer’s resignation opens a new period of political uncertainty in Britain, less than two years after Labour returned to power with a large parliamentary majority.
Source: BBC
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