LONDON – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday that he will resign as leader of the Labour Party after a turbulent tenure marked by policy reversals and mounting public dissatisfaction.

In an emotional address outside 10 Downing Street, Starmer said: “Every decision I have taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party.”

The 64-year-old prime minister will remain in post until a new party leader is chosen, with the selection process set to begin in July. A successor is expected to be in place before parliament returns from summer recess in September.

Starmer’s announcement comes just one day before the 10-year anniversary of the Brexit referendum, which triggered Britain’s departure from the European Union and ushered in a period of unprecedented political instability. The country is now set to have its seventh prime minister in a decade.

The resignation follows months of pressure on Starmer, who until the weekend had insisted he would continue as prime minister despite facing numerous challenges and calls to step down.

His term was derailed by a series of missteps, including controversial benefits cuts and criticism over defence spending plans. He narrowly survived a leadership challenge in March after appointing Peter Mandelson, a known associate of late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as Britain’s ambassador to Washington.

Starmer’s position was further weakened in May when the far-right, anti-immigration Reform UK party defeated Labour in local elections, capitalising on growing discontent with the government.

The prime minister’s main rival, veteran politician Andy Burnham, is due to be sworn in as a member of parliament on Monday after winning a crucial by-election on Thursday. His return to parliament clears the path for him to contest the Labour leadership.

Starmer, who led Labour to a decisive victory in 2024 that ended 14 years of Conservative rule, attempted to strike an optimistic note in his resignation speech.

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