UK Prime Minister Resigns
British PM Keir Starmer Resigns, Andy Burnham Poised to Lead Labour
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation on June 22, 2026, ending a turbulent two-year tenure that began with a 412-seat landslide victory in July 2024. He will remain as caretaker prime minister while the Labour Party selects a new leader, with Andy Burnham emerging as the clear frontrunner hjnews.com.
Burnham, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester, formally confirmed his leadership bid the same morning. His main rival, former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, quickly dropped out and endorsed Burnham, calling unity "our only path" corsicanadailysun.com.
How a Landslide Victory Collapsed in Two Years
Starmer took office in July 2024 riding the biggest Labour win in decades. But his approval rating fell from 48% at the start to just 22% by June 2026, according to YouGov. GDP growth stayed flat at 0.2%. NHS waiting lists did not shrink. Internal party rebellions over a proposed "Net Zero Transition Tax" drained his authority further.
The breaking point came in May 2026, when Labour lost over 400 seats in local elections. A week later, a leaked memo from 10 Downing Street confirmed that Starmer's "five missions" had stalled. On the night of June 21, he was told by Labour's parliamentary committee that he had lost the confidence of his own MPs BBC News.
Burnham Steps Forward as Streeting Clears the Path
Burnham announced his bid at 10:30 AM from Manchester, framing it as a break from "the Westminster bubble." He said he was ready to lead "a government that listens to the regions, not just the corridors of Whitehall" The Guardian. If he runs unopposed, he could become Prime Minister within 14 days.
Streeting, once seen as the "Blairite" heir to Starmer, announced at 11:45 AM that he would not run. He said Burnham has "the unique ability to bridge the gap between our heartlands and our metropolitan base" Sky News. His fast exit likely shortens the leadership race significantly.
Brexit Anniversary Shadows an Already Fragile Economy
The resignation fell exactly ten years after the June 23, 2016, Brexit vote. Research by the Financial Times shows the economic fallout from Brexit remained a key driver of Starmer's collapse. A trade deal he struck with Brussels in 2025 delivered no real growth boost. The next prime minister will inherit a £40 billion gap in the public budget.
Polling by Ipsos UK shows 56% of the public now believe the UK was wrong to leave the EU. Yet 62% still oppose rejoining the Single Market if it means free movement of people. That contradiction leaves Burnham with no easy path on trade or immigration.
Trump Cheers Exit While Markets Wobble Then Steady
U.S. President Donald Trump quickly linked Starmer's resignation to immigration and green energy policy. On Truth Social, Trump wrote that Starmer was "weak on the borders and obsessed with the Green New Deal nonsense," adding that "Britain is finally waking up" Reuters.
Markets reacted sharply. The British pound dropped 0.8% against the dollar right after the announcement, according to Bloomberg. It stabilized once Streeting endorsed Burnham, a sign that investors preferred a quick, clean transition over a drawn-out Labour civil war. Burnham's hints at a wealth tax on homes worth over £2 million are already causing concern in the City of London.
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