Key facts
- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned after less than two years in power.
- Starmer stated his parliamentary party questioned his suitability to lead them into the next general election.
- His resignation follows a landslide general election victory in 2024, achieved on a low national vote share.
- Starmer's popularity declined after early policy missteps and U-turns, such as axing winter fuel payments.
- The process for selecting a successor involves support from 20% of MPs and votes from members and unions.
Sir Keir Starmer has resigned as UK Prime Minister after less than two years in power, citing doubts from his parliamentary party about his leadership for the next general election. His resignation follows a landslide victory in 2024, but this was achieved on a historically low share of the national vote, and his personal popularity declined significantly within weeks of taking office.
Starmer, who entered politics at 52 after a career as a human rights lawyer and Director of Public Prosecutions, had promised to restore trust in politics and lead the country to 'calmer waters'. However, his government's early warnings about inherited economic problems and subsequent decisions, such as axing winter fuel payments for pensioners, led to a sharp drop in his approval ratings. Despite a U-turn on the fuel payments, a pattern of policy reversals had been established.
His 'Mr Rules' approach, characterized by a procedural and methodical style, was seen by critics as lacking communication skills and a clear ideology, contrasting with the authenticity and emotion that often dominate modern politics. Starmer's working-class background and personal experiences were often referenced, but these did not translate into sustained public support.
The process for selecting Starmer's successor requires support from 20% of MPs and subsequent votes from party members and unions. His tenure will be remembered as one of the shortest for a Labour prime minister, a bitter outcome after achieving a significant parliamentary majority.