British Prime Minister Keir Starmer Announces Resignation After Less Than Two Years

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation Monday after less than two years in office. He becomes the sixth prime minister in the past decade. Starmer said he would stay on until September to allow time for his party to choose a replacement. Officials indicated the process could conclude before the end of summer.

Starmer took office promising a moderate approach.

During his tenure, the government raised taxes and expanded social benefits while tightening rules on speech. Defense Secretary John Healey resigned last week and criticized the prime minister for failing to allocate sufficient resources for national defense amid rising threats.

In local elections held last month, the Reform UK party gained more than 1,400 council seats. The party won victories in both Labor and Conservative areas. Nigel Farage, a Member of Parliament, called for national parliamentary elections in 2027, two years earlier than the scheduled 2029 vote.

The resignation comes amid ongoing debate over immigration policy and public safety. Officials have faced criticism over how police handle certain violent incidents. One case involved the fatal stabbing of an 18-year-old student. Police initially accepted the attacker’s account and restrained the victim before he died.

The attacker was later convicted of murder.