Keir Starmer to quit as Labour leader as Andy Burnham enters race

London,UPDATED: Jun 22, 2026 21:30 IST

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday that he had lost the support of Labour MPs and would step down once his successor as party leader is chosen, possibly by the middle of July. The move follows a special UK election result last week that triggered his resignation.

Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, confirmed soon after Starmer's statement that he will run for the Labour leadership. Burnham is widely seen as the front-runner after his strong win in Makerfield in north-west England, where he increased Labour's vote share to nearly 55% and beat the anti-immigration Reform UK candidate while also drawing support from other left-leaning parties.

Starmer, speaking outside 10 Downing Street, did not mention Burnham by name but said, "with good grace", that he was not best placed to lead Labour into the next general election. While the next national election does not have to be held until 2029, British parties can replace their leaders in the middle of a term without calling a general election.

Burnham, 56, arrived in London on Monday and was sworn in as an MP after nearly a decade away from Parliament, during which he served as mayor of Greater Manchester. Shortly after Starmer's announcement, he formally entered the race.

He said Starmer's decision to step down "marks the beginning of a transition and it is important that this process is conducted in an orderly and responsible way".

"The country expects stability, seriousness and a continued focus on the issues that matter most and that is what it will get," Burnham said.

Starmer said he would remain prime minister until his successor is in place and that Labour's national executive committee will open nominations on July 9. If Burnham is the only candidate, he could be confirmed as party leader about a week later. If there is a contest, the process would likely run into September.

Burnham has already received the backing of Wes Streeting, who resigned as health secretary last month after earlier indicating that he might run himself. Streeting said he would support Burnham, saying "he can win the fight of our lives against the forces of nationalism", referring to Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, which has moved ahead of Labour in opinion polls since the July 2024 general election.

"We could spend the summer exaggerating small differences, or we can roll up our sleeves and help him to deliver the change our party and our country needs," Streeting said.

Other possible contenders have not yet responded to Starmer's announcement. They include Starmer's former deputy Angela Rayner, who resigned last September over an unpaid property tax, and Al Carns, who quit last week as armed forces minister over Starmer's defence funding plans.

Within Labour, some believe it would be better if no one challenged Burnham so that he could move into 10 Downing Street this summer before the party conference. Burnham did not say whether he would prefer an uncontested path to the leadership when he left Manchester for London.

To enter the contest, a candidate must secure the backing of one-fifth of Labour's MPs, or 81 lawmakers. Candidates who cross that threshold must then win support from 5% of local constituency parties or at least three party affiliates such as trade unions and co-operative societies. Eligible party members and affiliates would then vote using a ranked system, with the winner needing more than 50% of the vote. The winner would then be invited by King Charles III to become prime minister and form a government. For now, Starmer remains in office while Labour prepares for a leadership transition that could be settled quickly or stretch into September.

With PTI Inputs

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