Keir Starmer has broken his silence on his resignation, describing it as a “deeply personal” decision reached during a weekend with his family at Chequers. In an interview with the BBC, the outgoing Prime Minister warned his likely successor, Andy Burnham, that he would inherit the same global conflicts and domestic challenges.
Starmer Opens Up About Resignation Decision
Starmer revealed he accepted his political career was over after “grappling” with the move for weeks. He said: “But for me, and this may be different for other people, in the end it became an intensely personal decision. And that’s why it was a decision taken ultimately when Vic and I were away with the kids. We went to Chequers and just spent two days together as a family. And that’s when I came to my final decision.”
He added: “Taking the decision that your political career is over, it is an intensely personal matter, or at least it was for me. I wanted to do that with Vic, and that’s what I did.” Starmer resigned within three days of Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield by-election, despite earlier insisting he would fight on.
Thinly Veiled Swipe at Burnham Supporters
In the interview, Starmer appeared to take a swipe at those who believe a new leader could focus more on domestic issues. He said: “If you’re prime minister and you care what bills are gonna be like in any household around the country, you have to care about finding a lasting solution to the situation in Ukraine, you have to care about what happens in the Strait of Hormuz.”
When asked whether a future prime minister could spend less time on diplomacy, Starmer replied: “No, I don’t think it is possible. There’s often this discussion - what’s the right balance between dealing with international affairs and dealing with domestic affairs? They’re one and the same thing.”
Warning for His Successor
Starmer warned that whoever replaces him will face the same pressures. He said: “Whoever’s my successor is going to face the same global conflict. We keep saying, and it’s true, we’re in a more dangerous and volatile world than we’ve been in for probably most of my lifetime. That’s not just a phrase, that’s reality. That’s not going to change. And the domestic challenges aren’t going to change.”
Despite acknowledging Burnham as the frontrunner, Starmer insisted he had “never had any personal animosity” toward the former Greater Manchester mayor. He pledged to stay out of his successor’s way, saying he would be “keeping my mouth shut” rather than offering constant advice from the backbenches.
Starmer Defends His Record
Looking back, Starmer defended his tenure, arguing he helped rescue a party that had become “politically, financially and morally bankrupt”. He said: “The Labour Party arguably could have been lost, but I stepped up as leader and with others we saved the Labour Party.” However, he acknowledged his time in No 10 ended because Labour MPs no longer believed he was “the right person to take us into the next election”.
