Starmer resigns as UK faces seventh PM in decade after Brexit
14 reported
Keir Starmer announced his resignation as prime minister Monday, making him the sixth leader to be felled by economic and political turbulence in the decade since the 2016 Brexit vote. The United Kingdom is now set to get its seventh prime minister in 10 years, joining a small group of countries including Peru, Romania and Bulgaria that have experienced more recent churn at the top of government. Andy Burnham, the runaway favorite to replace Starmer, was sworn in as a lawmaker Monday after winning a special election last week to challenge the outgoing leader. Burnham’s supporters have high hopes for his mix of charisma, man-of-the-people vibe and pro-business agenda, which helped make Manchester, where he recently served as mayor, the fastest-growing economic region of the U.K. The widespread skepticism was nonetheless palpable when Burnham was sworn in, with a lawmaker heckling wryly, “Rome is saved.” According to the article, Britain has been trapped in a cycle of economic and political shocks starting with the 2008 financial crisis and culminating with high inflation fueled by wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. The article notes that Britain is still the world’s sixth-largest economy, has one of five permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council, and has an estimated arsenal of 225 nuclear weapons.
What’s reported
Keir Starmer announced his resignation Monday, making him the sixth prime minister felled by economic and political turbulence since the 2016 Brexit vote.
The United Kingdom is about to get its seventh prime minister in a decade.
Andy Burnham, the runaway favorite to replace Starmer, was sworn in as a lawmaker Monday after winning a special election last week.
A lawmaker heckled wryly, “Rome is saved,” when Burnham was sworn in.
Britain has been trapped in a cycle of economic and political shocks starting with the 2008 financial crisis and culminating with high inflation fueled by wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Britain is still the world’s sixth-largest economy, has one of five permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council, and has an estimated arsenal of 225 nuclear weapons.
Real-term average wages have not increased since 2008 after accounting for inflation.
Austerity cost the average Briton half a year of life expectancy from 2010 to 2019, according to a study by the London School of Economics.
By last year, Brexit meant the economy was 6% to 8% smaller than it would have been otherwise, according to the U.K. in a Changing Europe think tank.
Net migration grew from 335,000 in 2016 to 944,000 in 2023.
Inflation hit a 40-year high of 11% in late 2022.
In 2022-23, 4.3 million children were living in poverty, 700,000 more than in 2010, government figures showed.
Starmer’s government oversaw a decline in net migration, a reduction in hospital waiting lists and modest economic growth.
The recovery has been further sidelined by Israel and the United States’ launching their February war on Iran and the consequent global shock to oil markets.
Key figures
Keir Starmer, outgoing prime minister
Andy Burnham, runaway favorite to replace Starmer
David Henig, former assistant director at Britain’s International Trade Department, now a London-based director at the European Center for Political Economy
Scott Lucas, international politics professor at Ireland’s University College Dublin
Guto Hari, director of communications for Boris Johnson
Dominic Grieve, Britain’s ex-attorney general and former Conservative grandee lawmaker
Sources: NBC News
