Starmer Stands Down as Prime Minister After One-Hour Meeting With Burnham

Sir Keir Starmer met Andy Burnham for one hour on 23 June 2026, the first such meeting since Burnham won the Makerfield by-election the previous week. During the session Starmer announced he is standing down as prime minister and authorised access talks with civil servants for prospective Labour leadership candidates.

The talks will begin as soon as possible and before formal nominations close on 16 July 2026, the prime minister's spokesman said.

They will cover formation of government and key policy priorities, including security briefings. If Burnham faces no challenger he could become prime minister as early as 17 July. Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, Starmer said he wanted whoever became the next prime minister to succeed.

He added that he would seek to resolve difficult issues in the coming weeks to support his successor and make the transition as easy as possible. Starmer has agreed to suspend major policy and spending decisions until a new prime minister is in place.

Burnham has committed to Rachel Reeves' fiscal rules and to Labour's manifesto promise not to increase the main rates of income tax, VAT or National Insurance.

One ally of Burnham told the BBC that if he becomes prime minister he is expected to offer Reeves a junior or mid-level cabinet position. A spokesperson for Burnham said no decisions had been made. Burnham is also expected to appoint former Labour cabinet minister James Purnell as his Downing Street chief of staff, according to two close allies.

Purnell served as culture secretary and work and pensions secretary under Gordon Brown between 2007 and 2009. After quitting as an MP in Greater Manchester in 2010, he worked as a senior BBC executive, university vice-chancellor and chief executive of lobbying firm Flint Global.