British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces resignation

London — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Monday that he was resigning from his position as the leader of the ruling Labour Party, which will also see him replaced as the country's leader. Starmer has been under mounting pressure to resign for weeks, and his decision came after a political rival from within Labour, former Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, made it clear that he would challenge the prime minister for his job. Starmer had vowed to stay in his post , but his position became untenable as more and more Labour Party colleagues concluded his time was up. The timetable for his departure sped up after Burnham left his role as mayor and then won a seat last week as a Member of Parliament for his local constituency — a necessary move as prime ministers have long been chosen from among sitting members of the House of Commons. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer looks on as he awaits Switzerland's Federal President Guy Parmelin on the sidelines of the G7 summit on June 16, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. Isabel Infantes/Pool/Getty It marks the end of a tumultuous reign for Starmer less than two years after his Labour Party was swept to power in a resounding national election victory — and less than two months after voters made their frustration with his handling of national affairs clear in a round of local elections. …