Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced his resignation, paving the way for a transition of power within the Labour Party following Andy Burnham's recent by-election victory.

 Starmer says new PM to take over mid July if Burnham unopposed, or by end of August if there's election

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced his resignation, paving the way for a transition of power within the Labour Party following Andy Burnham's recent by-election victory. 

The Leadership Timetable

During his resignation announcement, Starmer outlined a clear dual timetable handled by the Labour Party's National Executive Committee: [

• Nominations Open: July 9, 2026.
• Mid-July Handover: A new Prime Minister will take over by mid-July if Andy Burnham stands unopposed.
• Late August Handover: If other candidates trigger a full leadership contest, the election will conclude and a new Prime Minister will take office by the end of August, prior to Parliament's return in September.

Background on the Transition

Starmer confirmed he will remain in post as Prime Minister to guarantee an orderly handover of power until the contest wraps up. The move comes immediately after Andy Burnham won the Makerfield by-election on June 18, 2026, returning to Westminster specifically to position himself for the party leadership amid a broader cabinet crisis