Andy Burnham will stand to replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader after the Prime Minister announced his No10 exit this morning.
Burnham, who has now been sworn in as an MP, followed up Starmer’s resignation speech by describing it as the beginning of a transition”, adding he will “put myself forward as part of this process”.
Immediately after Burham’s announcement, former health secretary Wes Streeting said he would back him for the party leadership, saying “he can win the fight of our lives against the forces of nationalism”. He had been seen as a potential rival to Burnham for the top job.
Their moves came after the PM took to the podium in Downing Street to announce his decision to quit and laid out plans for leaving office in a bid to ensure an “orderly transition” in running the country, with nominations opening on July 9 in a contest to replace him.
Voice cracking with emotion, Starmer said becoming Prime Minister had been the “proudest moment of my life” but accepted: “The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election – I have heard the answer from my parliamentary party and I accept that answer with good grace. Every decision I have taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party.”
The Prime Minister had been bunkered down at Chequers with his wife Victoria over the weekend weighing up his future and she was at his side as he announced his resignation. They both stood before No 10 before going back in, again to loud applause and cheers for his team gathered outside.
Burnham returned to Westminster this afternoon to be sworn in as an MP in the wake of his emphatic victory in the Makerfield by-election.
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The Prime Minister’s tearful exit shows politics is a ‘tough, rough, unforgiving, cruel trade’, columnist Kevin Maguire writes for the Mirror:
The King is dead, long live the mobbed insurgent King of the North.
Teary Keir Starmer’s enforced abdication and grinning Andy Burnham’s looming coronation perfectly illustrate why politics is a tough, rough, unforgiving, cruel trade with little room for sentiment.
So goodbye an unpopular Prime Minister deserving more credit than ever enjoyed for a string of UK Government popular achievements (e.g. workers’ and renters’ rights) but who should name his memoirs “Winter Fool” for an unrecoverable own goal just three weeks after a remarkable Labour election victory.
And hello to a currently very popular Prime Minister-in-waiting surfing a wave of enthusiasm who either swiftly comes back down to earth to walk the talk by filling policy and political gaps or the buzz rapidly evaporates.
Read more with Mirror+: ‘Keir Starmer’s enforced exit and Andy Burnham’s looming coronation shows why politics is cruel trade’
Mirror columnist Kevin Maguire has reacted to Keir Starmer’s resignation speech(Image: Xinhua/Shutterstock)
Andy Burnham is on course to become Prime Minister within weeks after Keir Starmer resigned less than two years on from Labour’s landslide win.
Mr Starmer will remain in place until a successor is appointed, with nominations opening on July 9 for a leadership contest. Labour’s ruling body is expected to agree the full timetable on Thursday.
Read more with Mirror+: Andy Burnham could be PM within weeks after Keir Starmer’s dramatic resignation
Benedict Tetzlaff-DeasToday18:58 BST
The long-awaited UK defence spending plan will still be published before the upcoming NATO summit despite Keir Starmer’s resignation, David Lammy told the Commons this evening.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the plan “will deliver another unprecedented increase in defence spending” when it is published.
“We’re already investing £270 billion over this Parliament,” he added, referring to a period due to span 2024 until 2029.
The NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, begins on July 7.
Benedict Tetzlaff-DeasToday18:31 BST
The latest tribute to Keir Starmer’s premiership has come from ex-defence secretary John Healey – who resigned from cabinet only last week in a row over defence spending.
He wrote on X (formerly Twitter) this evening: “Keir Starmer brought Labour back into government after one of the worst defeats in our Labour history.
“Since then with his leadership, we’ve achieved so much we can be proud of: falling NHS waiting lists, stronger renters rights, fairer workplace protections, half a million children out of poverty & the highest ever level of support for Ukraine.
“Change promised, change delivered.
“Today, as always, he has shown great strength, putting public service first.
“It’s now on all of us in government and in the Labour Party to pull together so we’re stronger than ever, to deliver what we’ve promised the British people.”
Defence secretary John Healey said Keir Starmer has ‘shown great strength'(Image: TOLGA AKMEN/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock)
Mirror Politics correspondent Dave Burke writes from Westminster on a day of high political drama:
Labour MPs are currently holding a behind-closed-doors meeting in a committee room in Parliament.So far there’s no sign of Andy Burnham – meaning he’s either otherwise engaged or planning a dramatic (late) entrance.As is tradition, journalists are loitering in the corridor outside room 14 – the same room, it’s worth noting, where Rishi Sunak’s ascent to the top job was confirmed in 2022. These meetings of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) are usually opportunities for frontbenchers to drum up support for the leader.
But with Keir Starmer’s announcement this morning, everyone feels like they’re in limbo. There’s been some applause as Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn addresses MPs, but thus far none of the desk thumping we see when times are good.Lisa Nandy, Yvette Cooper, Lucy Powell and Jess Phillips are among the senior figures in attendance.But unless they slipped in early, Wes Streeting and rumoured challenger Darren Jones are also not in the room.
Dave BurkeToday18:08 BST
Andy Burnham took a train from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston for his swearing-in at parliament – and arrived in the capital 20 minutes late.
The former Greater Manchester mayor was greeted by frenzy photographers upon arrival at London Euston station, and left by taxi on the way to Westminster.
The train was late because of a points failure between Stockport and Stoke-on-Trent, Network Rail said.
Andy Burnham’s train into London Euston arrived 20 minutes late(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
On the day Keir Starmer announced his exit from Number 10 less than two years after an historic Labour landslide, the Mirror’s Political Editor Lizzy Buchan writes:
It was the hope that killed him.
Keir Starmer swept to power on a wave of optimism as fed-up voters kicked the Tories out after 14 years. But the landslide that delivered a near record Commons majority was the root of his undoing.
Labour’s election masterminds found a way to win by being everything to everyone. But once in power, Starmer struggled to hold this electoral coalition together and at times ended up pleasing no one.
His Government made mistakes that led us to this moment. But deep public hostility towards him is out of step with what he has achieved. It is symptomatic of our divided times, the fracturing of two-party politics and the deep frustration of voters.
Read more: Keir Starmer was elected on a wave of hope – then crushed by public expectation
Keir Starmer’s resignation comes less than two years after his landslide general election victory(Image: AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
The Mirror’s Deputy Political Editor Ashley Cowburn writes:
Wes Streeting has never made any secret of his ambition to one day be Prime Minister.
Just last week he was setting out his economic vision for the country and calling for a “battle of ideas” leadership contest to replace Keir Starmer.
Despite a degree of scepticism among some MPs, the ex-Health Secretary’s team repeatedly insisted he had the numbers required to trigger a contest. He had “every intention” of standing in a battle to replace Starmer, he told journalists assembled at a press conference in central London.
Even as speculation swirled over the Prime Minister’s imminent resignation on Sunday evening, allies were bullish. A source told us: “Wes has always been very clear that his priority is change and that means a change in No10. At the moment he thinks the route to do that is to be a candidate in a leadership contest. He’s got the people, he’s ready to go.”
Read more: Inside Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham’s crunch talks as PM resigns – ‘no job deal’
Wes Streeting has not been offered a job in a Burnham cabinet, allies claim(Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire)
Three Lions fans are divided on the resignation of Keir Starmer and chant that they don’t want Nigel Farage as Prime Minister, the boss of the England fans team said today.
Garford Beck, 64, from London, has managed the fans’ team at World Cup tournaments and in friendlies at home. He featured in an ITV film about England’s most loyal fans, seen by millions of TV viewers watching the tournament in the UK.
In Boston for the Ghana game tomorrow, he watched Mr Starmer’s resignation unfold on TV in the early hours of the morning US time. Speaking to our reporter in the US, said: “It was dramatic, it was history being made.
“It was inevitable because he had lost the country. England fans have made their feelings known with the famous chant about Starmer.
“But politics does generate a lot of arguments among our supporters. Many of them start singing about Nigel Farage after the Keir Starmer chant saying he is a w***er and they don’t want him either.
Read more from the Mirror’s Jeremy Armstrong at the World Cup: England fans in US take aim at Nigel Farage with brutal chant after Keir Starmer’s resignation
England fans have now come up with a chant about Nigel Farage(Image: James Manning/PA Wire)
Today16:41 BST
Responding to a question from Kemi Badenoch about the future of defence spending in the Commons, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy replied: “I am proud to serve a Prime Minister whose hard work has made this country stronger and much fairer than the Britain we inherited from the party opposite.
“She knows that the Prime Minister has rebuilt Britain’s international alliances. She can’t deny the five major trade deals that we struck under our watch that she failed to do.
“She knows that we’ve led the coalition of the willing to back Ukraine, we’ve renewed our partnership with Europe, we’re delivering the biggest boost to defence spending since the Cold War – I’m proud of all of that.”
David Lammy pointed to Britain’s support for Ukraine, partnership with Europe and ‘five major trade deals’
Andy Burnham is on course be Prime Minister within weeks after Keir Starmer’s decision to step down.
The Makerfield MP returned to Parliament on Monday after convincingly winning the most consequential by-elections in the modern age.
Leadership hopeful Wes Streeting threw his weight behind Mr Burnham after Mr Starmer’s resignation, in an acknowledgment that the momentum is behind the Greater Manchester mayor.
If no other candidates throw their hat into the ring, Mr Burnham may enter Downing Street in mid-July without the need for an official Labour leadership contest. Some Labour MPs believe he needs to set out his plans for Government before he enters the top job.
“I do think it would be useful for Burnham to set out his form of Manchesterism to the country, to my constituents, so people have a better idea of what it means,” one senior Labour MP told The Mirror.
Read more as the Mirror takes a look at what Andy Burnham could do in Downing Street
Andy Burnham could be Prime Minister within weeks(Image: Getty Images)
Dave BurkeToday16:10 BST
Speaking in the Commons in the last few moments, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said Keir Starmer has been on the “right side of history” – and paid tribute to the Prime Minister’s foreign policy record.
Updating MPs on the recent G7 summit, Mr Lammy said: “I want to start this statement by paying tribute to his record on foreign policy, which is second to none.
“As Foreign Secretary when we entered Government, I saw first-hand the Prime Minister rebuild our relationship across the world.
“The EU reset we led put Britain at the heart of Europe once again. Embracing President Zelensky on the steps of Downing Street on one of Ukraine’s darkest days, symptomatic of the leadership he showed across Europe and in relation to the threats from Vladimir Putin.
“Principled, courageous and on the right side of history, he drove investment to working people with five trade deals in two years.
“When it came to the most sober decision a Prime Minister has to make on the matter of life and death and war, when others were pushing for the UK to jump head first into another war in the Middle East, Keir Starmer stood strong, stood firm, and said ‘No, this is not our war’, putting British soldiers and the national interest first.
“He made Britain safer, rebuilt Britain’s reputation across the world, drove investment and growth that will support working families in Britain for decades to come.
“Regardless of our politics, everyone in this House owes a debt of gratitude to the Prime Minister on foreign affairs.”
The Deputy PM said Keir Starmer was ‘principled, courageous and on the right side of history’
The Mirror’s Deputy Political Editor Ashley Cowburn writes from an eventful day in parliament:
Andy Burnham received a celebrity welcome as he arrived in Westminster Hall this afternoon for a family photo with Labour MPs.
Just moments after being sworn in, he arrived with Labour’s deputy leader Lucy Powell and top allies Louise Haigh and Anneliese Midgley.
Among the dozens of Labour MPs welcoming Mr Burnham back to Parliament – after a decade as Manchester Mayor – included senior Cabinet ministers Rachel Reeves, Ed Miliband, Steve Reed, Darren Jones.
Mr Burnham took selfies with the Labour MPs, who also included Wes Streeting, who just hours earlier dropped his own ambitions for the top job to back the ex-Greater Manchester Mayor.
Andy Burnham posed for a selfie with Labour MPs(Image: Getty Images)
Born in Liverpool to a BT engineer father and a GP receptionist mother, Burnham’s family moved after his dad landed a new job in Manchester.
He grew up in the quiet Cheshire village of Culcheth on the outskirts of Warrington, where he attended St Lewis Catholic Primary School and St Aelred’s Roman Catholic High School in Newton-le-Willows.
An ardent Everton FC supporter, the sporty middle son also showed promise as a bowler for Lancashire Schoolboys. Music was another passion – especially The Smiths and The Stone Roses.
In his 2024 book, Burnham reflected: “It was hard to be both a good student and one of the lads.”
Read more: Inside life of Andy Burnham – wife’s unexpected TV moment, children and voting record
Andy Burnham today – and with his wife Marie-France early in their relationship
Andy Burnham was joined by a large number of Labour MPs and peers for a welcome photograph in Parliament’s Westminster Hall.
The new MP for Makerfield stood in front of his Labour colleagues on a set of stone stairs leading up through the large medieval hall, just outside the Commons.
He was welcomed with a round of applause and was accompanied by Deputy Labour Leader Lucy Powell, and Jessica Morden, chair of the PLP.
Some of Starmer’s cabinet were seen in the background during the photo call, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, and chief whip Jonathan Reynolds.
(Image: Getty Images)
Andy Burnham’s swearing in at the Commons today drew plenty of attention from fellow MPs for obvious reasons – and even saw a reference made to Monty Python’s Life of Brian.
As he appeared before MPs, one heckled him by saying: “You’re not the messiah!”. A laughing Mr Burnham quipped: “Naughty boy, is it?
The new Makerfield MP then placed his hand on the Bible to formally take his seat, declaring: “I swear by almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors according to law, so help me God.”
Andy Burnham was all smiles as he appeared before the Commons today(Image: PRU/AFP via Getty Images)
Andy Burnham has been sworn in as the MP for Makerfield after arriving in Westminster, following his by-election victory.
He was sworn in using a Bible and took the oath of allegiance to the Crown, and walked to the House of Commons despatch box flanked by Knowsley MP Anneliese Midgley and Leigh and Atherton’s Jo Platt.
Burnham said: “I swear by almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.”
He was met with cheers from Labour MPs as he swore his oath.
Andy Burnham being sworn in as a MP(Image: Parliament TV)
Burnham shakes the hand of Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle(Image: Parliament TV)
Andy Burnham being sworn in(Image: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire)
Andy Burnham entered the parliamentary estate through the gate at Canon Row, escorted by a crew of security staff.
As Burnham and his team swept through Parliament’s Portcullis House office complex, he met former defence secretary John Healey.
The pair hugged and exchanged a few words before Burnham continued towards the Commons chamber to be sworn in as the new MP for Makerfield.
Andy Burnham arrives at Portcullis House in Westminster(Image: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)
Andy Burnham after stepping out of his cab outside Parliament(Image: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)
The Prime Minister was due to give a statement to Parliament this afternoon following his attendance at the G7 summit.
Keir Starmer met with leaders of the G7, including Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron, in Evian, France, and by convention the PM addresses the Commons following an international summit.
It has been reported that David Lammy will instead share a statement to the Commons this afternoon, hours after Starmer’s resignation speech.
Elizabeta RanxburgajToday14:11 BST
Sir Keir Starmer played a “significant role” in “resetting the Irish-British” relationship, Ireland’s premier has said.
In a statement, Taoiseach Micheál Martin conveyed his “best wishes” to Sir Keir following the announcement of his resignation.
Mr Martin said: “I want to acknowledge the significant role Keir played in resetting the Irish-British relationship as well as relations between the UK and the European Union during his time as Prime Minister. Since Keir took office two years ago, he has worked with us to set a new direction and depth in the relationship between Ireland and the UK, for the benefit of all our citizens, north-south and east-west.
“Our two Governments also took an important step forward in dealing with the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland publishing a Joint Framework on addressing the legacy of the Troubles.”
He added: “Keir is a person of great ability, decency and honour and I want to wish him, his wife Victoria and their family, very well in their next chapter. I have no doubt that his successor as Prime Minister will wish to continue to deepen and strengthen the relationship between the UK and Ireland, and we will continue to work in furtherance of that objective.”
Elizabeta RanxburgajToday13:52 BST
Dozens of journalists waited around a side exit at Euston Station to see a black cab zoom off with Andy Burnham in the back.
After his by-election win in Makerfield, Burnham is expected to be sworn in as a MP in less than an hour.
Andy Burnham in the back of a cab at Euston Station(Image: James Veysey/Shutterstock)
Burnham, who changed from a black t-shirt into a suit to get off the train in London, had a slip of the tongue as he mixed up his new role as a MP and his old job as Greater Manchester Mayor.
While away from the train at London Euston, Burnham said: “My priority today is to become sworn in, as the Mayor, as the MP for Makerfield and it’s been very kind of sad for me to leave Greater Manchester. The people have been brilliant to me over the last few years, I’ve loved every minute of the role.”
Elizabeta RanxburgajToday13:37 BST
The former Greater Manchester Mayor said his goodbyes at his old job this morning and was on an Avanti West Coast train for 1.5 hours down to London Euston.
Burnham’s train arrived 21 minutes late at 1.30pm and it was a full 16 minutes until he exited the station into a black cab through an underpass at 1.46pm.
He will make his way over to Westminster and is expected to be officially sworn in as a MP at around 2.30pm today.
Deputy Prime Minister Lucy Powell was on the train with Burnham and was spotted getting off ahead of him, as Burnham waited for other passengers to get off the train before him.
Burnham so far has been the only person to confirm they will throw their hat in the ring to take over from Keir Starmer as Labour Leader. Starmer confirmed this morning that he will resign as PM.
Andy Burnham walking through Euston Station after travelling down from Manchester(Image: BBC)
Andy Burnham walking through Euston Station(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Keir Starmer’s decision to resign was the honourable and the right decision.
“It is critical now that Labour focuses on delivering for workers and communities. There is no time to waste, everyday people are literally on their knees.
“Labour has one last shot to learn from the errors of the last two years. A failure to act, will result in a doomsday scenario for Labour.”
Elizabeta RanxburgajToday12:58 BST
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Starmer for his “support” during Russia’s illegal invasion.
Elizabeta RanxburgajToday12:51 BST
Mirror Political Correspondent Sophie Huskisson says…
Sophie HuskissonToday12:34 BST
Andy Burnham has confirmed he will run to replace Sir Keir Starmer as UK Prime Minister – but what could this mean for your money?
The former Greater Manchester Mayor has yet to lay out plans for what his potential premiership would look like, but the Mirror has rounded up everything he has said lately about everything from taxes to benefits and the state pension.
Taxes
Mr Burnham has previously hinted that he wants to revisit the income tax personal allowance, which is currently frozen until April 2031. The personal allowance is how much you can earn each year before you start to pay tax on your earnings.
This is currently set at £12,570 a year for most people. Ms Coles said: “While he hasn’t promised that as Prime Minister he would raise it, he does want to consider it.”
Mr Burnham has also previously suggested there is “definitely a case” to reintroduce the 50p top rate of income tax – although he did not specifically say whether that would be on the table if he became PM.
There is currently a 45p rate of tax for those earning above £125,140. Analysts also say there could potentially be changes to council tax, inheritance tax and stamp duty under his premiership.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
Levi WinchesterToday12:23 BST
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper praised Starmer for his time in office but said the Labour Party needed to come out of the leadership change as “stronger”.
Cooper said: “Keir Starmer led the Labour Party from one of our worst defeats in history in 2019 to one of our most decisive election victories five years later. All the things this Labour Government has done and will do in the future to build a fairer, stronger country are only possible because of what Keir has done over the last six years.
“Throughout, he has always shown great strength, dignity and determination to put public service and the interests of the country first. We saw that again in his words today.
“Since taking Labour back into government, Keir has also decisively restored Britain’s credibility as an important and trusted voice on the world stage, and a driving force in solving every shared problem. This remains a vital time for global security and we must keep our focus on the pursuit of peace and stability, from Ukraine and Gaza, to Sudan and the Strait of Hormuz.
“This has been a difficult time for the government and the Labour Party. As we move forward, we must come out of this process stronger, more united, and fully focused on building the fairer country that we promised the British people less than two years ago.”
Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper in February(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)