LONDON: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer nearly broke down as he found himself on the scrapheap of history on Monday when like Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss before him, he was booted out of No. 10 by his own MPs.
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After just two years in the job, having watched his authority within his party vanish following Andy Burnham’s resounding victory in the Makerfield byelection, the lectern came out in front of No. 10 and Starmer delivered his resignation speech, despite insisting earlier he wouldn’t resign.
Reform UK chief Nigel Farage immediately called for a general election. Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” was blasted from a loudspeaker outside the gates by anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray, almost drowning out his words and making it seem like a funeral service.
After a weekend of reflection at Chequers, on Monday, in front of No. 10 staff and hordes of press, Starmer said he was aware that his party did not think he was best placed to lead Labour into the next general election.
“I have heard the answer and I accept that answer with good grace,” he said, explaining he had already told the King he was stepping down. Nominations for the Labour party leadership contest will open on July 9 and be completed by July 16. “I will give my successor my full support,” he said, adding he will remain as caretaker prime minister until a new PM is in place, which will happen before Sept 1 and could be much earlier.
