British  Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigns as leader of the Labour Party, setting out timeframe for his departure as Labour leader 

Ella Rose, Associate Director 
22/06/2026

Sir Keir Starmer has announced that he will step down as Prime Minister once the Labour Party elects a new leader, bringing forward a rapid transition at the top of government.

Having already resigned as Labour Leader, Starmer will remain in Downing Street in a caretaker capacity while the party completes its leadership process. Labour’s National Executive Committee is expected to set out the timetable imminently, with nominations opening on 9 July and concluding before Parliament’s summer recess on 16 July. The intention is for a new Labour leader - and therefore a new Prime Minister - to be in place before Parliament returns in September at the latest, ensuring continuity of government while allowing an orderly transfer of power.

It is likely that Andy Burnham gets the overwhelming support of Labour MPs, and Cabinet Ministers with strong view of Parliamentary Party that there shouldn’t be a contest. He is likely to be the sole candidate nominated after Wes Streeting has thrown his support behind him, therefore it’s incredibly likely he will become Labour leader and then British Prime Minister on 17th/18th July, or shortly after. This enables Keir Starmer to attend NATO earlier in the week in his current role.

The other, although significantly less likely option is that multiple candidates secure the required nominations and there are several candidates on the ballot. There is no doubt that Andy Burnham will be on the ballot, having amassed up to 200 supporters within the Parliamentary Labour Party.

If there is a contest, Constituency Labour Parties, Trade Unions and Affiliates will be asked to nominate in meetings in July. Hustings and interviews take place throughout July and August between the contenders. Regardless, Andy Burnham remains overwhelmingly likely to become British Prime Minister by Parliament returning in early September, ahead of Party Conference recess in Autumn.

The key questions defining a future Andy Burnham Premiership is addressing the underlying issues facing the country. Stagnant growth and living standards post the ’08 financial crisis and ’16 Brexit vote, combined with the enormous pressure on public finances particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic has made British politics incredibly volatile with 7 Prime Ministers in a decade.

Burnham’s politics are largely unknown, shielded behind the myth of Manchesterism, a policy platform that is yet to be well defined. It is known that Burnham has clear interest in public ownership of utilities, technical education, and a more proportional voting system.

It is undoubtable that he will need to focus on growth - and his decision on appointing a future Chancellor of the Exchequer will be the first test of this. He appears to be wavering on the prospect of Ed Miliband being Chancellor, with alternatives such as John Healey, Yvette Cooper, or Wes Streeting in the frame for the role. The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood has made no secret of wanting to keep her role.