Starmer steps down, tenders resignation to King Charles III
text_fields
33London: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer formally tendered his resignation to King Charles III at Buckingham Palace on Monday after delivering a farewell speech outside 10 Downing Street.
In his address, Starmer said Britain was now "stronger and fairer", urged the country not to "succumb to that division", and wished his successor, Andy Burnham, "every success", saying he had his "full support".
Starmer led the Labour Party to victory in the July 2024 general election, ending 14 years of Conservative rule, and formally assumed office as Prime Minister on July 5, 2024.
On June 22, Starmer announced that he would step down as Labour leader and resign as Prime Minister once a successor had been chosen.
Following Starmer's resignation, newly elected Labour leader Andy Burnham is expected to travel to Buckingham Palace, where King Charles III will invite him to form a government. Burnham will then formally assume office as Prime Minister.
The Labour Party confirmed Burnham as its new leader on Friday.
The former Mayor of Greater Manchester is set to become Prime Minister on Monday after Starmer's resignation, in keeping with established constitutional procedure.
Speaking at the Trades Union Congress headquarters in central London, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who also chairs Labour's National Executive Committee, said Burnham secured nominations from 379 Labour MPs. As the only candidate to meet the required threshold, he was declared leader unopposed, without a ballot of party members.
Burnham returned to Parliament after winning the Makerfield by-election, the result of which was declared on June 19. Three days later, Starmer announced he would resign as Labour leader while remaining Prime Minister until a successor was elected.
In his acceptance speech, Burnham recalled working with Starmer around a decade ago to draft the original version of the Hillsborough law following the second Hillsborough inquest, drawing on Starmer's legal expertise.
Burnham also said Britain had taken a series of wrong turns since the 1980s, arguing that political power had become increasingly centralised while key public services, including housing, water, energy and transport, had been privatised.
According to constitutional convention, the outgoing Prime Minister submits a resignation to the monarch, who then invites the incoming leader capable of commanding a majority in the House of Commons to form a new government.
With IANS inputs