As expected, British prime minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation as leader of the Labour Party—and, by extension, as PM—on Monday, June 22nd.
Standing outside 10 Downing Street, the PM spelled out his decision:
The question being asked now is not who was best placed to change the Labour party, to take us into power and to begin the vital work of improving lives for millions of people. Those questions have been answered.
The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election.
I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question, and I accept that answer with good grace.
Every decision I’ve taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour party.
I have spoken to His Majesty the King this morning to inform him of my decision.
The proposed timetable for replacing Starmer would likely completed in time for the state opening of Parliament in September, although it is not yet clear whether or not this would involve a Labour leadership election.
Starmer remains scheduled to attend a limited calendar of international commitments, stretching into July.
While the resignation follows the Makerfield by-election, which saw prospective Labour leader Andy Burnham returned to parliament, longer-term public concerns, including U-turns, incompetence, and double standards, prompted the huge level of Starmer’s unpopularity during his two years in office.
Read on HERE.
