Two years since his landslide election win, Keir Starmer has announced he will step down as prime minister.
In a speech outside Downing Street, he said he was not best placed to lead Labour into the next general election.
Nominations to replace Starmer will open on 9 July and be completed by summer recess. Until then, he will remain as prime minister.
Starmer has faced pressures from Labour members of parliament, including cabinet ministers, following Andy Burnham’s by-election win in Makerfield in a challenge against Reform just last week.
Burnham, former mayor of Greater Manchester, is now in the race for the top spot, one he attempted to reach twice over 10 years ago and missed. He is regarded as the front runner to replace Starmer.
Wes Streeting previously confirmed he would enter any Labour leadership contest, however he has now announced he will back Burnham, instead.
What could this mean for the industry?
When acting as mayor of Greater Manchester, Burnham oversaw the Green Spaces Fund. Since its launch in 2022, the fund has invested approximately £3.5 million into over 120 community projects across the city region, including orchards, green alleyways, allotments, community gardens, a tree trail and an urban farm.
So far, over 28,000m2 of new green space has been created and nearly 400,000m2 of existing green space has been improved, with the help of 100,000 local people.
On top of this, Burnham has promised to honour chancellor Rachel Reeves budget, if he were to lead the Labour party. However, he has mentioned raising a taxpayer's personal allowance from £12,750, which has been frozen for over five years. That move would put more money in the pockets of low earners and basic rate taxpayers.
In a previous interview, he also stated, “Labour have got it wrong on small businesses.” He stated he would consider cutting national insurance employers’ national insurance contributions, and proposed a cut to business rates for pubs and small, family-run enterprises.
Cuts would in turn be paid for by higher levies on giant warehouses operated by online firms such as Amazon.
He’s also said he wants "the biggest programme of council house building since the Second World War."
Questions are also being raised as to whether Reeves will remain in post, as the same crop up surrounding Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs secretary Emma Reynolds.
What could end up an even bigger race, is if Starmer’s resignation triggers a general election – something Reform leader Nigel Farage is now calling for.
Credit: Keir Starmer ©House of Commons
