Starmer Resigns, Successor Race Begins
Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation this morning (Monday, June 22), immediately shifting the political focus to his successor. The Labour leader said a new party leader and Prime Minister would be in place by September, with Starmer remaining in post to ensure an orderly transition.
Following Andy Burnham's decisive victory in the Makerfield byelection, most political pundits view him as the frontrunner to step into Number 10.
Lib Dems Call for Bold New Deal with Europe
Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: "This time must be different. It can’t just be about changing who’s in Number 10, it has to be about changing our broken politics so we can fix our country." Davey outlined key priorities: "That means tackling the cost of living with a bold new deal with Europe, fixing social care to end the NHS crisis, and giving power back to people by voting reform and giving communities more control. The next prime minister needs to show the ambition our country deserves."
Green Party: Burnham Must Be Bold or Be Bust
Green Party leader Zack Polanski specifically called on Burnham to "be bold or he will be bust." Polanski said: "We are still waiting to see which version of Andy Burnham might going to show up in Downing Street. While he has talked about a change of course, the early indications are not encouraging and suggest more of the same with better communication skills." He added: "The time for half measures and sticking plasters is long gone – if he becomes the next PM, Burnham must be bold or he will be bust. It is going to be the Green Party, in alliance with working class movements, that can stand up to Reform to prevent the disaster of Nigel Farage in Downing Street."
Farage Calls for General Election
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage immediately called for a general election. In a post on his Substack blog, Farage said: "Starmer isn’t the first Prime Minister I’ve deposed, and he won’t be the last. David Cameron. Theresa May. Rishi Sunak. And next up – Andy Burnham. The reason each leader has failed is the same." He continued: "What the political class fails to understand is that the electorate won’t accept being taken for fools. They cannot continue to take the votes of the people who supported them for granted, only to betray them upon having gained power. Politics is about trust. That is why I am calling for a general election at the soonest possible date. You know as well as I do that the country cannot afford to waste another week drifting from crisis to crisis. That’s why millions of you turned out in the local elections to vote for Reform councillors, and it’s why we have led in more than 300 opinion polls for well over a year."
Impact and Next Steps
The calls from opposition parties highlight the pressure on Starmer's successor to address key issues including the cost of living, social care, and political reform. With Burnham as the likely candidate, the coming months will test whether he can meet these demands or face further political upheaval.
