LONDON (AP) 鈥� U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned on Monday, paving the way for Britain to have its seventh prime minister in just over a decade.
He said he was stepping down as leader of the governing Labour Party but will remain caretaker prime minister until a new Labour leader is chosen by the party.
Andy Burnham, who won a special parliamentary election last week, is the front-runner to replace Starmer as Labour leader.
Starmer won a landslide victory at a general election in 2024, but a series of missteps badly damaged his credibility.
Here’s the latest:
EU leader praises Starmer
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Starmer鈥檚 legacy after news of his resignation in a post online on Monday.
鈥淚t can take many leaders years to grow into the statesman you became in just two years,鈥� she said on X. 鈥淓uropean and Ukrainian security is stronger because of you. Thank you, dear Keir.鈥�
The prime minister’s speech ends on an emotional note
Starmer鈥檚 voice choked with emotion near the end of the brief statement.
鈥淭he question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election,鈥� Starmer said. 鈥淚 have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question, and I accept that answer with good grace.鈥�
Starmer resigns
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he is stepping down as leader of the governing Labour Party.
Starmer says he will remain caretaker prime minister until a new Labour leader is chosen in the next few weeks.
Starmer made the announcement after facing growing pressure to hand over to a new leader who can try and revive the government鈥檚 flagging fortunes. He has been in office since leading Labour to a landslide election victory in July 2024. In those two years his popularity and that of the party have plummeted.
As Starmer spoke, protesters sing
As Starmer began his speech, protesters nearby played the EU anthem, Beethoven鈥檚 鈥淥de to Joy.鈥�
Expectations of a resignation
Expectation is building that U.K. Prime Minister will set out a timetable for his resignation, conceding to pressure from his Labour Party to hand over the reins of power.
If he does, Starmer will be the sixth prime minister in a decade to stand outside 10 Downing Street and announce a premature departure.
Starmer spent the weekend pondering his future following the victory of intraparty rival in a for a seat in Parliament. Burnham, until last week the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, ran with the aim of for leadership of the party and the country.
Burnham is due to be sworn in as a member of Parliament on Monday.
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