UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Resigns... Steps Down After Two Years in Office

Labour Party Leadership Race Begins

New Leader to Be Elected Before Parliament Reconvenes in September

Economic Slowdown and Falling Approval Ratings Weigh Heavily

Andy Burnham Emerges as Leading Successor Candidate

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his intention to resign on June 22 (local time).

EPA Yonhap News

Prime Minister Starmer made the announcement during a public address in front of 10 Downing Street in London, stating that he had informed King Charles III of his decision earlier that morning.

This comes nearly two years after he was inaugurated as prime minister, following the Labour Party's landslide victory in the July 2024 general election and the successful transfer of power.

Prime Minister Starmer stated that he plans to ask the Labour Party's National Executive Committee (NEC) to begin the registration process for party leadership candidates starting from August 9, and to conduct the leadership race before the summer recess. The new leader is expected to be elected before Parliament reconvenes in September.

Prime Minister Starmer also announced that he will remain in office until his successor is chosen, supporting an orderly transition of power.

Although Starmer led the Labour Party to victory in the 2024 general election after becoming party leader in 2020, his approval ratings declined amid mounting criticism over economic slowdown, policy confusion, and delays in reforms during his tenure. The defeat in last month's local elections is also seen as a contributing factor.

Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester who recently won a seat in a parliamentary by-election, is being widely mentioned as the leading candidate to become the next Labour Party leader and prime ministerial candidate.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.