How the resignation of Sir Keir Starmer unfolded

Sir Keir Starmer, Britain's sixth prime minister post-Brexit, resigned as the fifth before his term concluded. He highlighted his government's achievements, including a stronger economy, rising wages, increased investment, infrastructure development, an end to austerity, and lifting half a million children out of poverty. Despite his achievements, political pressure from within his party led him to accept that he was no longer seen as the best leader for the next general election. He ended his speech by dedicating more time to his family.

Andy Burnham, dubbed the 'King of the North,' made his way to Westminster after winning the Makerfield by-election. His rival, Wes Streeting, announced he would not be standing for leadership, instead endorsing Burnham and urging others to support him. This raised the question of whether there would be a leadership contest at all. Conservative and Lib Dem leaders called for speed and stability in politics amidst the changes.

Andy Burnham garnered significant support from approximately 200 Labour MPs, including Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner, and Jonathan Reynolds. Robert Peston described Starmer's downfall as an extraordinary reversal, attributing it to the surge of Nigel Farage's Reform party. Labour MPs feared losing their seats to Reform, and Burnham's victory in the Makerfield by-election, where he increased the vote share, offered hope. Starmer's resignation was seen as a response to losing the parliamentary party's support due to the 'Farage factor'.

Nominations for a new leader will open for a week starting July 9th. If Andy Burnham runs uncontested, a new prime minister could be in place by July 17th. Many Labour MPs believed Starmer's resignation was inevitable, especially after local election results. Some MPs expressed sadness at Starmer's departure, valuing his delivery on the manifesto. While Burnham has strong internal support, some within the party, particularly on the left, desire a wider leadership contest despite the challenging nomination rules.

In West Yorkshire, residents reacted to the prime minister's resignation, with some expressing unhappiness with Starmer and others questioning the frequent changes in leadership. The public agreed that six prime ministers in ten years was excessive and embarrassing. While Andy Burnham is a well-known figure in the North, he is less recognized in the South. Voters expressed a desire for a leader who championing working people and showed skepticism about instant political solutions given the current global state of affairs.

Labour MPs back Andy Burnham to avoid losing their seats, viewing him as an electoral asset after his Makerfield success. Wes Streeting's decision not to contest further solidifies Burnham's path. However, some still worry about Burnham's untested ideas and the lack of a proper contest. In Scotland, First Minister John Swinney called for a fundamental change in direction, advocating for Scottish independence, and noted the vindication of Anas Sarwar who previously called for Starmer's resignation. In Northern Ireland, the focus was on the conviction of Jeffrey Donaldson, but the next prime minister will face calls for increased financial support for Stormont. In Wales, the defeat in the last election was painful for Labour. Welsh First Minister noted Burnham's experience as Mayor of Greater Manchester might make him more open to devolving further powers to Wales.