Burnham confirms Starmer succession bid as he is sworn in as MP
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned on June 22, forced out by his own party after missteps and mistakes soured voters’ goodwill following a landslide election in 2024. His likely successor, Andy Burnham, has just been sworn in as an MP and has no official rival to run for party leader. FRANCE 24's Philip Turle takes a look.
A look back at Starmer's two years in power following his resignation
A look at Keir Starmer’s political career, in photos
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer is led by Director General Yousif Alobaidli and tour guide Mahra, right, as he visits the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, December 9, 2024. © Kirsty Wigglesworth, Pool, AP Photo
President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a meeting at the Trump Turnberry golf course in Turnberry, Scotland, July 28, 2025. © Jacquelyn Martin, AP Photo
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, left, with, from second left, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, France's President Emmanuel Macron, and Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz pose on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street, London, Dec. 8, 2025, following a meeting of the leaders inside. © Kin Cheung, AP Photo
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer talks to journalists as he travels onboard a plane to Washington DC to attend a Nato summit July 9, 2024. © Stefan Rousseau/Pool Photo via AP
Macron praises Starmer's 'commitment' to supporting Ukraine, rebuilding EU-UK relations
French President Emmanuel Macron praised outgoing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's "commitment" to supporting Ukraine and boosting relations between Britain and the European Union.
"I would like to thank Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his contribution to strengthening Franco-British relations, his commitment to the Coalition of the Willing for Ukraine, and his efforts to rebuild relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union," Macron said on X, after Starmer announced his resignation.
Canada PM Carney hails Starmer's support for Ukraine, NATO
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney praised outgoing UK leader Keir Starmer for backing Ukraine and strengthening NATO after the British premier announced his resignation.
Starmer "led international efforts to support Ukraine through the Coalition of the Willing, strengthen NATO (and) improve Arctic cooperation," said Carney, who previously served as governor of the Bank of England, also thanking the British leader for his "friendship."
- Starmer says he will resign in orderly transfer of power
- Andy Burnham announces he will put himself forward to be prime minister
- UK Labour leadership frontrunner Andy Burnham sworn in as MP
Who is Andy Burnham, the UK's likely next prime minister?
Britain's prime minister is expected to lay out a timetable for his departure. Keir Starmer has been under pressure to go since last month's dismal election outcome for the Labour Party. The man vying the country's top job is the Mayor of Greater Manchester, who's just secured his return to parliament. But who exactly is Andy Burnham?
UK Labour leadership frontrunner Andy Burnham sworn in as MP
The frontrunner to be the UK's next prime minister, Andy Burnham, was sworn in as a member of parliament, a key step in his bid to replace Keir Starmer.
Starmer announced his resignation as prime minister on Monday after fewer than two years in office, as calls mounted for the unpopular leader to step down after Burnham won a vital by-election last week.
In this video grab taken from footage broadcast by the UK Parliamentary Recording Unit (PRU) via the Parliament TV website on June 22, 2026, new Labour Party MP for Makerfield, Andy Burnham is sworn in after his win in the recent by-election. © Pru, AFP
📷 Eagerly awaited by the British press, Andy Burnham has arrived in London
Newly elected Makerfield MP and former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham walks at Manchester Piccadilly station as he leaves for London, in Manchester, Britain, June 22, 2026. © Temilade Adelaja, Reuters
Newly elected Makerfield MP and former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham walks at Manchester Piccadilly station as he leaves for London, in Manchester, Britain, June 22, 2026. © Temilade Adelaja, Reuters
Labour's Andy Burnham sits in a taxi after he arrived in London, Monday, June 22, 2026 . © Kin Cheung, AP Photo
No job offer for UK's Streeting from Burnham, Streeting says
Britain's former health minister Wes Streeting told the BBC that Andy Burnham, who is frontrunner to become the country's next prime minister, had not offered him the finance minister role or any other job in a future cabinet.
EU's Costa sees need to postpone EU-UK summit after Starmer's resignation
European Council President Antonio Costa said the planned summit between the EU and Britain has to be postponed after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would resign.
"Now for sure we need to postpone it, but we are reassessing the opportunity to hold this new summit," Costa told reporters in a news conference held in Brussels.
"My wish is that his successor will give continuity on this path to reset our relationship with the UK," he added.
📷 In pictures: Keir Starmer annonces his resignation outside 10 Downing Street
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer makes a statement on his future outside 10 Downing Street on the morning of June 22, 2026, in London. © Henry Nicholls, AFP
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer walks out of 10 Downing Street with his wife Victoria Starmer to announce the timeline for his resignation, following Andy Burnham's decisive victory last week in the Makerfield by-election, in London, Britain, June 22, 2026. © Jack Taylor, Reuters
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hugs his wife Victoria, as he announces the timeline for his resignation, outside 10 Downing Street, in London, Britain, June 22, 2026. © Toby Shepheard, Reuters
UK's Burnham, frontrunner to replace Starmer, says too soon for talk of an election
British lawmaker Andy Burnham, the frontrunner to replace Keir Starmer as prime minister, said there were many steps ahead when asked if he planned to call a general election.
When asked by a BBC journalist if he would call an election, which he could only do if he became leader of the Labour Party, Burnham said: "You're jumping several hurdles ahead there."
Burnham, who was asked the question as he arrived in London from Manchester, is the only lawmaker to date to have confirmed he will enter the leadership contest, with nominations due in by mid-July.
Newly elected Makerfield MP and former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham walks at Manchester Piccadilly station as he leaves for London, in Manchester, Britain, June 22, 2026. © Temilade Adelaja, Reuters
UK junior minister Pollard says he will support Burnham to be PM
Britain's minister for defence readiness Luke Pollard said he would be backing Andy Burnham to replace Keir Starmer as prime minister in a post on X on Monday, hours after Starmer announced he would step down.
Andy Burnham heads for Westminster from Manchester Picadilly station
British pound holds up after Starmer's resignation
The British pound and the London stock market firmed, and the UK's benchmark 10-year bond dipped, after Britain's embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his widely expected resignation, with the country appearing set for an orderly transition to a new leader.
Starmer's departure could mean a change of finance minister and increased public spending, a prospect that has alarmed investors concerned about the country's debt levels.
Rachel Reeves has been finance minister since Labour returned to power nearly two years ago, having overseen some controversial choices regarding state spending and taxes that contributed to Starmer's demise
Andy Burnham, frontrunner to replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader and PM calls for a "positive process of renewal for our party and our country."
EU says 'reassessing' July summit plan with UK after Starmer resignation
The EU said it was "reassessing" with Britain plans for a summit on post-Brexit ties on July 22 after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's resignation.
European Commission spokeswoman Paula Pinho said Brussels and London were looking into "the opportunity of still holding the summit ... and we will take it from here".
Starmer resignation result of 'geopolitics' and shifting mood for 'flash and sparkle'
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned on June 22, paving the way for Britain to have its seventh prime minister in just over a decade. FRANCE 24's Douglas Herbert tells us more about what led Starmer to resign.
Kremlin says Starmer's exit unlikely to change UK's hostile attitude towards Russia
The Kremlin said that the departure of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a strong supporter of Ukraine, was unlikely to change what it characterised as London's hostile attitude towards Russia.
"Starmer has not done anything to distinguish himself on the issue of British-Russian relations," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
"He has always been in favour of keeping relations at a zero level. It is unlikely that anyone on the British political scene will hold a position on our country that differs from Starmer’s," said Peskov.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on June 3, 2026. © Ramil Sitdikov, AFP
