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UK PM Keir Starmer resigns: 7 PMs in 10 years, why no one stays long at 10 Downing Street

International Business Times | June 23, 2026 1:39 PM CST

Keir Starmer on Monday announced that he is stepping down as the British Prime Minister and leader of the governing Labour Party.

Making a statement outside 10 Downing Street, Starmer said that he will however remain in post as Prime Minister until a new Labour leader is chosen in the coming weeks.

"The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election. I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question, and I accept that answer with good grace. Every decision I've taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour party. I have spoken to His Majesty the King this morning to inform him of my decision," said Starmer.

After having led the Labour party to a massive election win in July 2024, the first in 14 years, Starmer has been facing criticism for the policies adopted by his government.

Starmer, however, said on Monday that he aimed to change Britain for the better and to build a fairer country with dignity and respect, where everyone is seen, everyone is valued and wealth and opportunity is available to all, not just the privileged few.

"A page in our country's history turned after years of disappointment and despair, the chance to change the lives of millions of people for the better. That's what I came into politics for. The journey to that point was not easy. Six years ago, I inherited a Labour party that was politically, financially and morally bankrupt.

"I was told time and time again that my party was finished, that we were consigned to history, that a majority at the general election, let alone a landslide majority, was impossible. We proved those people wrong because we changed our party, ripping out the poison of antisemitism, restoring trust on the economy, defence and national security, and becoming a party that once again stood proudly with God against our national flag," he said on Monday.

Starmer "has come up hard against the reality that the support isn't there", the Observer reported over the weekend.

"The truth is, everyone knows this is no longer a sustainable proposition. There's a sadness to it all, of course, but sometimes there's just an inevitability in politics and as Boris Johnson said: 'When the herd moves, it moves'," it mentioned.

It is anticipated that Andy Burnham could replace Starmer as the country's next PM with the number of MPs supporting him for the Labour leadership having increased after his victory in the Makerfield by-election last week.

Following months of plummeting approval ratings, policy U-turns and a severe internal party crisis, the final blow came over the weekend. Keir Starmer's major intraparty rival, Andy Burnham (the former Mayor of Greater Manchester), won a crucial Westminster by-election in Makerfield, clearing the path for an immediate leadership challenge.

David Cameron (Conservative)

The architect of the timeline. He resigned immediately after rolling the dice on the Brexit referendum and losing, triggering a decade of relentless institutional stress.

Theresa May (Conservative)

July 2016 – July 2019

Took over post-referendum. Her entire premiership was consumed by bitter, gridlocked negotiations with Brussels, ultimately forcing her resignation.

Boris Johnson (Conservative)

July 2019 – September 2022

Won an 80-seat landslide in 2019 and formally finalized the UK's exit from the EU. Later forced out by his own cabinet over the "Partygate" and ethics scandals.

Liz Truss (Conservative)

September 2022 – October 2022

The shortest-serving prime minister in British history (49 days) after her unfunded "mini-budget" triggered a massive market meltdown.

Rishi Sunak (Conservative)

October 2022 – July 2024

Stepped in as a stabilising economic force and negotiated the Windsor Framework, but lost power in a historic electoral defeat.

Sir Keir Starmer (Labour)

July 2024 – June 2026

Swept into Downing Street with a massive 174-seat majority, ending 14 years of Tory rule. However, his tenure quickly unravelled due to economic stagnation, internal scandals and record-low popularity, leading to his resignation. He currently serves as caretaker prime minister.

Summary of leadership shifts

To put this era into perspective, between 2016 and 2024, the Conservative party changed leaders four times without a general election mandate, alternating through varying factions of the party before the electorate reset the board entirely.

What happens next?

The governing Labour Party is moving immediately into a leadership transition.

The frontrunner Andy Burnham is in pole position to take over. Because he has massive momentum following his by-election win, there is significant talk of a "coronation" (where other candidates step aside to avoid a messy, protracted battle) so he can take over almost immediately.

Potential Challengers: Figures like Health Secretary Wes Streeting have been positioned as alternative contenders, though they face a steep climb to gather the required 81 MP nominations if the party decides to consolidate behind Burnham.

Whoever takes the keys to Number 10 will inherit a fractured party, a persistent cost-of-living crisis and the heavy burden of managing the UK's ongoing, complex relationship with Europe.