London [UK], June 22 (HBTV): UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced his resignation following mounting pressure from within the Labour Party.
In his address, Starmer acknowledged concerns regarding his leadership and the party's future.
'I know the question being asked now is who is best charged to take Labour forward. The question the party is asking is if I am best placed to lead the party into the next election. I have heard that answer from my party colleagues, and I accept it. Every decision I've taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party. I have spoken to His Majesty the King this morning to inform him of my decision. I will ask the Labour National Executive to start the process to ensure a new leader is in place before the next Parliament session in September. I will give my successor my full support, knowing that they will inherit a stronger Britain and work to ensure Labour gets a second term. I want to thank all my colleagues for their support,' he said.
An emotional Starmer also thanked his wife, Victoria, for 'being a rock by my side in good times and bad.'
'When I leave the biggest job in the country, I shall spend more time on the most important job, being the best husband I can to my fantastic wife Vic. And being the best dad I can to my beautiful children, who are my pride and joy,' he said.
Starmer has asked Labour's National Executive Committee to set out a timetable for a leadership contest, with nominations opening on July 9 and closing on July 16, before the summer parliamentary recess. In the event of a contest, the process is expected to ensure that a new Labour leader is in place before Parliament returns in September.
Political pressure on Starmer has intensified in recent months. The situation escalated after Labour Party rival Andy Burnham won a parliamentary seat, a development that could place him among the frontrunners in a future leadership race. Starmer's position was further weakened by poor local election results and his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as the UK's envoy to the United States.
Following consultations with Cabinet colleagues, advisers, donors and trade union leaders, Starmer concluded that his position had become untenable.
Just two years after the Labour government secured a landslide majority, the UK is set to enter a new period of political uncertainty, facing the prospect of its sixth prime minister in seven years.
(ANI)