Sir Keir Starmer has resigned as prime minister and leader of the Labour party following several weeks of turmoil.
Former mayor of Manchester and newly-elected MP for Makerfield Andy Burnham has confirmed he will stand to lead the party with former health secretary Wes Streeting withdrawing his candidacy to back Burnham.
In a statement released shortly after Starmer’s resignation, Streeting said: “We could spend the summer exaggerating small differences, or we can roll up our sleeves and help him to deliver the change our party and our country needs.
“That is the choice that I am making and I hope that everyone else will back Andy, too.”
Resignation
Announcing his resignation in front of 10 Downing Street, Starmer said he had spoken to King Charles this morning to inform him of his decision.
“The question my party is asking now, is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election,” Starmer said.
“I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question and I accept that answer with good grace.
“Every decision I have taken has been about putting the country I love first that is why I will resign as leader of the Labour party.”
Starmer said he will ask the national executive committee of the Labour party to set out a timetable for nominations opening by 9 July and to have this completed by the summer recess.
Should there be a contest this would ensure a new leader is in place before Parliament returns in September.
Local elections, Streeting and Burnham
Discontent had been growing with Starmer within the party after a disastrous set of local council election results last week.
Streeting heaped further pressure on Starmer when he resigned as health secretary a week later saying he had lost confidence in the prime minister and it was clear he would not be leading the party at the next election.
At his resignation Streeting had been widely expected to run in any leadership contest held by the Labour party.
Streeting was appointed as health secretary following Labour’s election victory in the summer of 2024. He was quickly replaced by James Murray as health secretary.
However, following former Manchester mayor Andy Burnham’s substantial victory in the Makerfield by-election last week, Burnham is now hot favourite to win the backing of the party and lead the country.
‘Courage to change’
In a lengthy statement, Streeting praised Starmer for leading Labour to a general election victory that no one thought possible and delivering real progress as PM, but added that it was the right time to stand down.
“After a devastating set of election results in May, the Makerfield by-election has proven that Labour can still win if we have the courage to change,” Streeting said.
“It was a victory for unity and hope over division and hatred.
“It was also Andy Burnham’s victory. Andy has shown what Labour can be when we are inclusive, united, and in touch with the lives of the people this party was founded to represent.”
Streeting highlighted his concerns with the nationalistic shift across the country which he wanted to tackle and to make Labour more inclusive and open to new ideas.
He continued: “Having spoken at length with Andy in recent days, I’m convinced that there is a place for those ideas under his leadership; that he is committed to building an inclusive party that draws on the best of our political traditions; and that he can win the fight of our lives against the forces of nationalism.
“We could spend the summer exaggerating small differences, or we can roll up our sleeves and help him to deliver the change our party and our country needs. That is the choice that I am making and I hope that everyone else will back Andy, too.
“We were elected to change our country, to show that politics can be a force for good, and to spread opportunity for everyone. With Andy, we still can.”