Keir Starmer announces resignation as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and leader of the Labour Party
PTC News Desk: Keir Starmer has announced his resignation as UK Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party, bringing an end to his tenure at Downing Street following months of mounting pressure from within his own party. He will remain in office until a successor is chosen, with a new Labour leader expected to be in place before Parliament returns in September.
Delivering an emotional statement outside 10 Downing Street, Starmer described his arrival there after Labour's landslide victory in the 2024 general election as the proudest moment of his life. He said he had entered politics to improve the lives of millions and reflected on what he viewed as the key accomplishments of his government.
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"Every decision I have taken has been about putting the country I love first. An economy that is stronger, going faster than our peers, wages rising faster than inflation in every single month since we came to power," Starmer said while listing his government's record.
Looking back on Labour's strong victory in the 2024 general election, Starmer highlighted what he saw as the key achievements of his government. He said the economy had grown, wages had increased, investment had risen, and major infrastructure projects had been launched. He also pointed to shorter NHS waiting lists, stronger protections for workers and renters, higher defence spending, fewer small boat crossings, and measures to reduce child poverty.
Starmer said his government had introduced the biggest improvements to workers' and renters' rights in a generation, delivered the largest increase in defence spending since the Cold War, and helped lift around 500,000 children out of poverty through its policies.
- With inputs from agencies
