Starmer expected to announce departure as prime minister on Monday
9 reported1 unconfirmed1 conflicting
According to a report in the Observer, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to resign on Monday and is preparing to set out a timetable for an orderly departure from No 10. The Guardian’s senior political correspondent, Peter Walker, reports that Starmer is expected to announce he will step down after overwhelming pressure from Labour MPs to make way for Andy Burnham to become Labour leader. Business secretary Peter Kyle told Sky News on Sunday that Starmer was spending the weekend “making time to reflect on the political realities” he faces. No 10 has denied the report that Starmer is about to resign and said he is getting on with the job of prime minister. The Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, is expected to be in Westminster on Monday to be sworn into the House of Commons and is reportedly planning to speak to Starmer afterwards. The number of Labour MPs publicly calling for Starmer to go has exceeded 100, just under a quarter of the party’s MPs.
What’s reported
Keir Starmer is expected to announce on Monday that he will step down as prime minister, according to the Observer and The Guardian’s Peter Walker.
Business secretary Peter Kyle told Sky News that Starmer is spending the weekend “making time to reflect on the political realities” he faces.
No 10 has denied the report that Starmer is about to resign and said he is getting on with the job of prime minister.
Andy Burnham is expected to be in Westminster on Monday to be sworn into the House of Commons and reportedly plans to speak to Starmer afterwards.
The number of Labour MPs publicly calling for Starmer to go has exceeded 100, just under a quarter of the party’s MPs.
Shadow chancellor Mel Stride said nothing will fundamentally change if Burnham replaces Starmer because Labour is “addicted” to debt and borrowing.
Stride criticized Burnham, saying he has “flip-flopped all over the place” and does not understand fiscal rules.
Burnham has bolstered his team of economic advisers in an apparent attempt to boost his fiscal credibility.
Starmer is under pressure to reveal his plans before a crunch cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Conflicting accounts
No 10 has denied the report that Starmer is about to resign and said he is getting on with the job of prime minister.
Open questions
It is unclear when exactly Starmer will announce his departure, if at all, and what the transition timetable would be.
Key figures
Keir Starmer, UK prime minister
Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester mayor and Labour leadership contender
Peter Kyle, business secretary
Peter Walker, The Guardian’s senior political correspondent
Mel Stride, shadow chancellor
Sources: The Guardian
