Keir Starmer sets out when he’s going to step down as Prime Minister in teary speech

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A teary Keir Starmer has said he will stand down as Prime Minister less than two years after he swept to power in a historic Labour landslide.

Sir Keir spoke on the steps of Number 10 to confirm his departure after weeks of immense pressure from his party over dire poll ratings and a series of damaging mistakes.

After weeks of vowing to fight on, his authority was crushed by senior Cabinet resignations and the return to Parliament of rival Andy Burnham, who trounced Reform in the Makerfield by-election last week.

In an emotional speech from the Downing Street lectern, Sir Keir said: ‘The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the general election.

‘I have heard the answer of my parliamenty party to that question. I accept that answer with good grace.

‘Every decision I have taken has been about putting the party I love first. That’s why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party.’

Sir Keir confirmed that Labour governing’s body will set out a timetable to replace him, beginning on July 9, with a new leader in place before Parliament returns in September.

He said after leaving the ‘biggest job in the country’ he will spend more time on ‘the most important job’.

Sir Keir’s voice wavered as he continued: ‘Being the best husband I can, to my fantastic wife Vic, who has been a rock by my side through good times and bad.

Starmer’s announcement is the culmination of a premiership filled with missteps, blunders and unpopular decisions that started tanking his personal popularity soon after he entered Downing Street.