British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday, only two years after he led his Labour Party to a landslide victory in the country’s national elections, after battling controversies, local election losses and slumping approval numbers.

Starmer announced his resignation outside his official residence in 10 Downing Street and said he will step down as both Prime Minister and leader of the Labor Party.

The embattled British leader noted he will continue to serve as caretaker prime minister until the Labour Party chooses a new leader, and said he expects the decision to be made before the country’s parliament returns for its next session in September.

Starmer said he spoke with King Charles on Monday morning and informed the British Monarch about his decision to resign.

In his resignation speech, the British leader claimed he inherited a Labour Party that was “politically, financially and morally bankrupt,” and helped restore trust on matters of “economy, defence and national security.”

President Donald Trump pre-empted Starmer’s official announcement with a Truth Social post mentioning his exit on Sunday and criticizing him for failing on “IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY.”

In his speech, Starmer said: “Six years ago, I inherited a Labour Party that was politically, financially and morally bankrupt. I was told, time and time again, that my party was finished. Ripping out the poison of antisemitism, restoring trust on the economy, defence, and national security. And becoming a party that, once again, stood proudly with, not against, our national flag.”

Who Could Replace Starmer As Prime Minister?

Starmer said he will ask his party to open nominations for the leadership role on July 9 and he expects the process to be completed by July 16. If a single nominee emerges, they could win the leadership uncontested, but if there are multiple candidates, then the party’s members will get to have their say through a vote. Starmer suggested that he expects a new leader to be in place when the country’s Parliament returns to session in September. The top emerging challenger to Starmer appears to be former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who won a special election last week to become a Member of Parliament. The popular former mayor is considered to be slightly to the left of the centrist Starmer.

Shortly after announcing his resignation, Starmer came under sharp criticism from members of various opposition parties. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch tweeted : “Britain is not ungovernable. Keir Starmer is a terrible Prime Minister. But the problem isn’t just Starmer. Labour MPs only want higher taxes to hand out more benefits, as the Welfare Secretary has pointed out. These are Labour’s choices and their values, regardless of who is running the party.” Nigel Farage, the leader of the far-right Reform Party called for an early election on X , saying: “Reform demands an election, and we are ready to deliver radical change. If Labour thinks it can shove another professional politician into No 10, it has another thing coming.” The leader of the left-wing Green Party, Zach Polanski also called out Starmer, saying : “Our country needs a bold change of direction. Starmer lost the confidence of the country because of his abject failure to challenge the power and wealth of an establishment which has taken for themselves while leaving the vast majority in a cost of living crisis.”

Former Conservative leader David Cameron is the last person to serve a full term as British Prime Minister. Cameron’s first term lasted from May 2010 to May 2015, when he led a coalition government with support from the Liberal Democrat party. Cameron helped the Conservative Party sweep back to power in 2015 with a full majority, but he resigned a year later after the Brexit referendum passed, setting the stage for the U.K. to leave the European Union. Since then, Conservative Party leaders Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Labour’s Starmer have served as prime ministers but none of them have completed a full term.

Trump Claims UK’s Starmer Will Resign (Forbes)

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s resignation speech in full (BBC News)