06/23/2026
Britain is preparing for yet another change in leadership, with the country set to welcome its seventh prime minister in just ten years.
On June 22, 2026, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation, less than two years after leading Labour to a decisive victory in the 2024 general election. He will remain in office as caretaker prime minister until a new leader is selected.
Starmer’s position had become increasingly difficult in recent months. Labour suffered heavy losses in May’s local elections, surrendering more than 1,000 council seats, while growing numbers of Labour MPs publicly called for him to step down. The pressure intensified after rival Andy Burnham secured a by-election victory, strengthening his bid for the party leadership.
After informing King Charles of his decision, Starmer said he accepted the judgment of his party “with good grace.” Labour is expected to choose a new leader, and consequently the UK’s next prime minister, by September.
Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester and current frontrunner in the leadership race, is widely expected to succeed Starmer, making him Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade.
This remains a developing story.
Sources: The Guardian, Reuters, AP, BBC