Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that he will resign as both Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party.
Speaking about his time leading Labour, Starmer said he inherited a party that was “politically, financially and morally bankrupt”.
He said he had been told “time and time again” that Labour was “finished”, but insisted he had “proved those people wrong”.
Starmer also pointed to changes he had made within the party, including “ripping out the poison of anti-Semitism”.
“Restoring trust on the economy, defence and national security,” he added.
Confirming his departure, Starmer addressed questions about his future leadership.
He said the Labour Party had been asking whether he was the right person to lead the party into the next general election.
Starmer said he had “heard the answer” from his party and “accepts that answer with good grace”.
He added that every decision he had taken while in office had been about “putting the country I love first”.
“I will resign as leader of the Labour Party,” he said.
The Prime Minister confirmed he has asked the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee to establish a timetable for the leadership contest.
Under the proposed schedule, nominations for candidates will open on 9 July, with the process completed before Parliament’s summer recess.
The timetable means a new Labour leader is expected to be in place before Parliament returns in September.
Until then, Starmer said he will remain in post as Prime Minister while the leadership transition takes place.
