Sir Keir Starmer announced on Monday, June 22, that he will resign as Prime Minister less than two years after taking office, following months of low approval ratings and internal party concerns over the rising popularity of Nigel Farage's Reform party. Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, Starmer said his party had asked “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.” His resignation triggers a Labour Party leadership contest, with former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham emerging as the frontrunner after a decisive by-election victory.
Free Breakfast Clubs Expansion Continues Despite Resignation
As Starmer prepares to leave office, more than half a million children are set to benefit from one of his government's flagship policies: free breakfast clubs in primary schools. The national rollout began in April, with the government committing to provide “healthy, nutritious and varied breakfasts that follow the School Food Standards” at no cost to families. The programme also allows parents to drop off children half an hour earlier, easing morning childcare burdens.
According to the GOV.UK website, the policy “means those parents can drop their children off half an hour earlier – helping parents get into work, giving them up to 95 additional hours back to juggle busy mornings, and saving working families up to £450 a year.” The government plans for 1,500 more schools to join the scheme in September, at which point 680,000 children will benefit. The application window for schools has closed, and individual institutions will contact parents about enrollment.
Leadership Timetable and Future Rollout
Starmer said he would ask the party's National Executive Committee to set a timetable for selecting a new leader by the time Parliament returns from its summer recess on September 1. His departure could come sooner, but the timing allows the expansion of free breakfast clubs to proceed as scheduled. The government aims for full coverage across England before the end of the decade, with further expansions in coming years.
Burnham, who recently secured a return to Parliament by defeating Reform in the Makerfield by-election, is seen as the leading candidate to succeed Starmer. The leadership contest will determine the future direction of the Labour Party as it prepares for the next general election.
