Live: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces resignation in emotional Downing Street speech

LAST UPDATE | 14 mins ago

UK PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer has announced he is to resign. 

In a speech at Downing Street this morning, he said he will resign as Labour leader and will remain as PM until a replacement is selected.

This may lead to a leadership contest in the Labour party, with new MP Andy Burnham the favourite to replace him, with or without a contest.

1 min ago 9:50AM

So there we have it. Starmer stepping down makes him the sixth prime ministerial resignation in the past decade.

We’re a few weeks away from the anniversary of the start of that unfortunate run, when David Cameron resigned on 13 July 2016 following the Brexit vote.

5 mins ago 9:46AM

Becoming emotional, Starmer says that after leaving the “biggest job in the country” he will 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,” he adds.

“And being the best dad that I can to be beautiful children, who are my pride and joy.”

The outgoing PM hugs his wife before heading back inside No 10.

13 mins ago 9:38AM

Starmer confirmed he will resign as Labour leader and he will remain as prime minister until a replacement is found.

He said that the past two years have seen the UK’s “reputation in the world restored” by “standing up for decency, respect and the rule of law”.

But he said he now knows the question being asked by his party is “whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election”.

“I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question and I accept that answer with good grace.”

18 mins ago 9:33AM

Keir Starmer has taken to the lectern outside No 10 Downing Street to some applause from onlookers. He has begun the address by reminding us that he had inherited a nation that was bankrupt when he took office two years ago.

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