Britain is once again facing political uncertainty. With Prime Minister Keir Starmer stepping down, the country is set to get its seventh prime minister in just over a decade. Such frequent changes at the top are rare in modern British history and reflect growing public frustration over issues ranging from weak economic growth and pressure on public services to rising concerns about immigration.

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday he would resign, with a new leader to be in place by the time parliament returns in September, paving the way for Britain to have its seventh leader in 10 years.

Here's what happens next:

Any candidate wishing to replace Starmer would need to secure the support of 20 per cent of Labour members of parliament. With Labour currently holding 403 seats, that equates to 81 lawmakers, including the challenger.

Candidates also must hit thresholds for support from grassroots Labour Party organisations, and from affiliated organisations such as trade unions. Click here to read more

"It has been a privilege to work alongside Sir Keir Starmer as he has led international efforts to support Ukraine through the Coalition of the Willing, strengthen Nato, improve Arctic cooperation, and deepen the historic partnership between Canada and the United Kingdom," Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said.

"Throughout, and in the face of exceptional challenges, Keir has acted with principle, determination, and collaboration. The world is safer and allies are more united because of his efforts. Keir, thank you for your lifetime of public service. I am grateful for your friendship, and I wish you all the best as you concentrate on your 'most important job'," he added.

Kyiv on Monday praised outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's support for Ukraine against the Russian invasion, while the Kremlin said it expected nothing to change, whoever replaces him.

London has been one of Ukraine's staunchest backers since Russia invaded in February 2022 -- with the United Kingdom's four successive leaders in the years since having provided arms and financial support.

"Keir, thank you for all our cooperation, your support, and the joint decisions that have helped make our Europe and our protection of life stronger," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X.

The Kremlin said on Monday that the departure of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a strong supporter of Ukraine, was unlikely to change what it characterised as London's hostile attitude towards Russia.

Starmer said on Monday he would resign, promising to ensure an orderly transfer of power to a new leader by September at the latest to try to avoid political instability as Britain prepares for its seventh leader in 10 years.

"Starmer has not done anything to distinguish himself on the issue of British-Russian relations," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"He has always been in favour of keeping relations at a zero level. It is unlikely that anyone on the British political scene will hold a position on our country that differs from Starmer’s," said Peskov.

The British Pound remained under pressure against the US dollar on Monday amid political uncertainty in the United Kingdom following Prime Minister Keir Starmer's resignation announcement.

In the opening session of the UK forex market, the pound sterling weakened to 1.32 against the US dollar at the time of filing this report.

The UK currency has weakened by more than 1.65 per cent against the dollar over the last five days amid ongoing political uncertainty and a stronger US dollar.

Currency expert KN Dey told ANI that the weakness in the pound was being driven by both global currency movements and developments in the UK political landscape.

"First of all, the dollar index is above 101. In fact, the dollar index went up last week, which has made the other currencies to come down. So sterling also has come down. And second thing is that there is a political uncertainty in UK. That is also adding a little bit of negativity on the sterling. So sterling is rather down more than the required," Dey said.

He added that the pound could continue to remain under pressure until clarity emerges on the political situation in the country.

"And going forward, until and unless this political uncertainty in UK gets settled, the sterling will have pressures going ahead," he said.

(ANI)

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer turned emotional as he spoke about stepping down, saying he would now focus on "the most important job", being a husband and father, as he announced his resignation.

"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, who has been a rock by my side through good times and bad, and being the best dad I can to my beautiful children, who are my pride and my joy," said Starmer, choking back tears.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday he would resign, with a new leader to be in place by the time parliament returns in September, paving the way for Britain to have its seventh leader in 10 years.

Dutiful rather than dynamic, Keir Starmer was elected Britain's prime minister to be a safe pair of hands who would end years of political chaos under the Conservatives.

His term is ending less than two years later after missteps, party infighting and one colossal error of judgment that indirectly ensnared him in the scandals surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, a man he had never met and whose sexual crimes he was not complicit in.

A trouncing for Starmer's Labour Party in a midterm set of local and regional elections on May 7 proved the final straw. It triggered a series of government resignations and challenges that look set to sweep former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham into 10 Downing Street.

It's a precipitous downfall from July 4, 2024, when Starmer brought the center-left Labour Party back to power after 14 years, winning 411 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons.

Standing outside 10 Downing St. the next day, Starmer pledged to restore "respect to politics" and lead a government of "public service." After the chaos of the last years of Conservative rule, which saw a constant churn of scandal and the toppling of prime ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss in quick succession, Starmer promised to lower the temperature and make politics a little bit more boring.

(AP)

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Monday praised British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for bolstering "European" security after he announced his resignation.

"It can take many leaders years to grow into the statesman you became in just two years. European and Ukrainian security is stronger because of you. Thank you, dear Keir," the European Commission president posted online. 

(AFP)

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has called for a general election after Sir Keir Starmer said he would step down as prime minister.

Reform demands an election, and we are ready to deliver radical change.
If Labour thinks it can shove another professional politician into No 10, it has another thing coming.
Read my second essay to Britain. 👇

— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) June 22, 2026

Watch live: My statement. https://t.co/MX7ga3FRGq

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 22, 2026

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned on Monday, saying he was "putting the country first," as Labour's Andy Burnham emerged as the front-runner to replace him after mounting pressure within the party. 

He said, "Every decision I have taken is about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party."

Labour has strict rules governing the removal of a party leader. The system requires lawmakers to coalesce around specific candidates rather than just express "no confidence" in their current leader.

Under the rules, any challenger must secure the backing of 20% of the party's lawmakers in the House of Commons, equating to 81 lawmakers, including the challenger, in the current lower house of parliament.

If Burnham decides to move early, he will most likely need to announce a formal challenge before parliament goes into recess on July 16, when lawmakers return to the areas they represent to work and take summer holidays.

Andy Burnham is a senior British Labour politician who has served as the Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017. Born in Liverpool in January 1970, Burnham grew up in northwest England and joined the Labour Party when he was just 15. He later studied English at the University of Cambridge before starting his political career.