UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that he is stepping down as the Labour Party leader and as PM on Monday.
The resignation follows mounting pressure on the PM after the Labour Party suffered major losses in the Local election conducted in May.
Starmer was also facing rebellion from his party members over his leadership and policies.
About two years ago, Starmer led the party to win its largest parliamentary majority in the 2024 general election.
Starmer said that he would remain in his post until the leadership contest is completed. He also said that he would ensure an orderly handover of power.
Andy Burnham is now the frontrunner for the post. Nicknamed “the king of the North”, Burnham is a high-profile name in the north-west of England. He recently won a parliamentary election in the constituency of Makerfield to return to the House of Commons in Westminster, after beating a candidate from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party. He was previously the mayor of Greater Manchester.
In the UK, prime ministers have generally been chosen from among sitting members of the parliament for decades. Burnham's win in Makerfield allows him to challenge the sitting PM. Burnham and Starmer have been rivals in the same party.
The victory had given hope to the Labour Party, whose members believe that Burnham could transform the party that had lost support under Starmer.
In an emotional announcement, Starmer paid tribute to his wife and children.
He also said that he has asked the Labour governing body to set out a timetable to replace him. The nominations open on July 9 and end on July 16.
he alsos aid that he would give his successor “full and unequivocal support, knowing that they will inherit a Britain that is far stronger and fairer than the one I inherited two years ago".
Apart from Andy Burnham, other names on the top contender list include Wes Streeting, Angela Rayner, Shabana Mahmood, and Ed Miliband
