British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday his resignation from his position. Starmer said in his speech at Downing Street headquarters: “I spoke to His Majesty the King this morning to inform him of my decision. I will ask the Labor National Executive Committee to set a timetable with nominations opening on July 9, and completing it by the parliamentary summer recess.”
Starmer added: “This will ensure a new leader is in place before Parliament returns in September. I will remain in my role as Prime Minister until the contestation process is complete.” These developments come with mounting pressure on Starmer within the Labor Party, after the number of MPs demanding that he draw up a plan for his departure from office rose to about 100, or nearly a quarter of the 403 members of the party’s parliamentary bloc, following the landslide victory achieved by Andy Burnham, his rival within the Labor Party, in the by-elections in the Makerfield constituency.
Calls for Starmer to step down have increased since the heavy losses suffered by the Labor Party in the local elections last May, despite his repeatedly asserting that he will not “step down” or “give up his position.”
It was also reported that some of his government ministers informed him on Friday of the need to set a timetable for his departure.
