Keir Starmer announced he will resign as the leader of the UK Labour Party but will remain as Prime Minister until a successor is chosen. Starmer's resignation follows the recent election of Andy Burnham as a lawmaker in Parliament, who is seen as a potential frontrunner for leadership. Labour lawmakers welcomed Burnham upon his arrival in Parliament, where he expressed sadness about leaving his role as mayor of Greater Manchester.
To enter the leadership contest, candidates must secure the support of at least 81 Labour MPs and receive backing from 5% of local constituency parties or affiliated groups. The Labour Party's national executive committee will open nominations on July 9. If Burnham is the only candidate, he could be confirmed as leader shortly thereafter; otherwise, the election could extend into September.
Burnham has garnered support from Wes Streeting, a prominent Labour figure, who stated that Burnham is capable of winning against the anti-immigration Reform UK party led by Nigel Farage. Other potential candidates have not yet commented on Starmer's announcement. The next national election in the UK is not required until 2029, allowing for leadership changes without a general election. Responses from international leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have acknowledged Starmer's contributions during his tenure as Prime Minister.