Sir Keir Starmer choked up as he announced his resignation as Prime Minister on Monday morning.
The outgoing leader of the Labour party’s voice cracked and broke as he said he planned on being “the best husband” to his wife, Vic, and the “best dad I can to my beautiful children”.
The announcement marks an end to Sir Keir’s two-year tenure as Prime Minister and the leader of the Labour party following an onslaught of calls to stand down after Labour’s humiliating losses in the May local elections.
In the emotional speech, he said: “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.”
Sir Keir has just returned to Westminster after spending a weekend in Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country residence. He will now set out a timetable for his departure as the shortest serving Labour Prime Minister.
In his speech, he explained that a leadership contest would get underway with nominations opening on July 9. A new Labour party leader and UK Prime Minister will be in place before Parliament returns in September.
His resignation also paves the way for Andy Burnham who has been widely mooted as Sir Keir’s successor.
Mr Burnham is set to return to parliament on Monday after winning the Makerfield by-election last week. But his journey to No.10 may be blocked by other potential contenders to the premiership including former health secretary Wes Streeting and former defence minister Al Carns.
Should Mr Burnham be voted in as Prime Minister, he will be tasked with building as Government capable of batting off challenge from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.
