LONDON, JUN 22 (PTI): Keir Starmer on Monday announced his resignation as British Prime Minister and the Leader of the Labour Party, setting out a timetable for his successor to be elected in the coming weeks and be in place by September.
The 63-year-old said he will remain in post until a new leader and PM is elected by the governing party and pledged his “full and unequivocal support” to the next incumbent to “ensure an orderly handover of power”.
Andy Burnham, who returns to the House of Commons on Monday after winning a crucial by-election last week, is seen as the frontrunner in the race to replace Starmer at 10 Downing Street.
“I will put myself forward as part of this process,” the 56-year-old leader said in a social media post.
“The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election,” said an emotional Starmer, in his address from the steps of Downing Street.
“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,” he said.
