Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his intention to resign on Monday in the face of increasing dissent within the Labour Party. This decision follows significant losses in local elections, the resignation of several government ministers, and mounting pressure from prominent figures within his cabinet.
Starmer expressed his decision to step down from both his roles as prime minister and Labour leader, having concluded that unifying the party was beyond his reach. However, he plans to remain in office until a successor is appointed.
“My decisions have always put this beloved country first. Thus, I am resigning as the Labour Party leader. I informed His Majesty the King of my choice earlier today,” he declared in a statement outside 10 Downing Street.
Acknowledging the internal revolt, Starmer remarked, “The current question within my party is whether I am the right person to lead us into the forthcoming general election. I have listened to my parliamentary colleagues’ responses and accept them graciously.”
He added that he will serve as a caretaker prime minister until the Labour Party elects a new leader in the upcoming weeks.
The announcement follows weeks of turmoil inside Britain’s ruling party after Labour lost roughly 1,500 council seats and control of more than 25 councils in local elections last month, according to reporting from U.K. outlets. The losses were fueled by major gains from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party in Labour’s traditional strongholds and by Green Party advances in urban areas.
Britain’s PM Starmer speaks during a press conference, in London. (Thomas Krych/Pool via REUTERS)
Starmer’s domestic troubles deepened after a damaging dispute with President Donald Trump over the Iran conflict earlier this year. The British prime minister initially resisted U.S. requests to use British bases during military operations against Iran, prompting Trump to criticize him publicly, saying: “This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with,” on March 3.
But after initially drawing a hard line, Starmer later approved limited defensive cooperation with the U.S., angering anti-war lawmakers inside his own party while still failing to satisfy critics who accused him of indecision and weak leadership.
Public frustration over the episode surfaced in YouGov focus groups and polling commentary, where voters described Starmer as “weak,” “indecisive” and overly reactive to Washington.
Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, celebrates the victory of Sarah Pochin in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election at the DCBL Stadium in Widnes, England, on May 2, 2025. (Oli Scarff/AFP)
The crisis escalated after two Labour ministers resigned publicly and called for a leadership transition.
Jess Phillips resigned from her government role after Starmer reportedly refused to step aside during a cabinet meeting. Phillips said Labour needed leadership with more “gusto” and warned the government was failing to deliver the change voters expected, according to The Guardian.
Miatta Fahnbulleh also resigned and called for what she described as an “orderly transition,” according to U.K. media reports Tuesday.
More than 80 LabourMPs publicly called for Starmer to resign. Steven Swinford, political editor at The Times, wrote on X, “What is striking is the fact that they hail from all wings of the party,” adding that roughly a third were centrists, while others came from Labour’s soft-left and hard-left factions.
John Healey defended Starmer publicly before the resignation announcement, saying, “More instability is not in Britain’s interest. Our full focus must be on security.”
Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands at a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington on Feb. 27, 2025. (Carl Court/Pool Photo/AP)
Starmer also faced criticism over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington, reviving media scrutiny surrounding Mandelson’s past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Attention now turns to a potentially divisive Labour leadership contest that will determine both Labour’s next leader and Britain’s next prime minister.
Wes Streeting is viewed as a leading contender from the party’s centrist wing, while Andy Burnham remains popular among Labour’s grassroots having recently won a seat in Parliament. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is also expected to play a major role in shaping the succession battle.