Keir Starmer announced his intention to resign as Britain's prime minister in a short speech on Monday morning, accepting that pressure from his own MPs and cabinet had become unavoidable. The scene, apart from the rain, was reminiscent of Rishi Sunak's resignation just under two years ago.
The Setting and Timing
Starmer delivered his speech minutes after the lectern was placed a few feet in front of the door at No 10, facing a phalanx of cameras. He stepped out with his wife, Victoria, at 9.30am. To his right, a group of special advisers and ministers had started to assemble before he appeared. The Anthem of Europe, also known as Ode to Joy, was blasted from elsewhere in Whitehall by anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray, though this is not captured in the photograph.
Starmer's Speech
“Walking up this street two years ago was the proudest moment of my life,” Starmer said, starting his speech from behind the lectern bearing the UK government's coat of arms. He announced his intention to resign but stay until his successor was in place. “The question my party is asking now is 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,” he stated. The speech lasted about six minutes; Starmer maintained composure until the last few lines, when he grew visibly emotional while paying tribute to his wife and children.
Media Presence
Approximately 100 members of the media began arriving early on Downing Street. Broadcasters and photographers set up a few feet from the prime minister, soon joined by Westminster correspondents and political editors.
Key Staff and Allies in the Crowd
Key backroom staff who worked alongside Starmer under heavy pressure were in the crowd. They included John Stevens, No 10's head of political media and a former political editor at the Daily Mirror, visible at the front in a suit and open-necked white shirt. To his immediate right is Tessa Tyler Todd, one of the prime minister's special advisers. On his left stands Liz Bates, a former Sky News journalist who is special adviser to Steve Reed, the local government secretary and a key Starmer ally.
The deputy prime minister, David Lammy, and the chief secretary to the prime minister, Darren Jones, both wearing red ties, were the two most senior cabinet members in the crowd. Jones has long been one of Starmer's closest cabinet allies. Others included Oliver Longworth, Reed's chief of staff, in sunglasses and towering over others a few paces over Jones's left shoulder. Standing behind Longworth is Starmer's son. MPs included Abena Oppong-Asare, the MP for Erith and Thamesmead, wearing a floral dress at the front; as Starmer's parliamentary private secretary since September, she served as his “eyes and ears” in the Commons.
Family and Close Associates
Victoria Starmer stood at the edge of the group, beside the attorney general, Richard Hermer KC, in a suit and dark tie. Immediately to his right was Jenny Chapman, the UK development minister and a longtime friend and ally of Starmer, who gave interviews after the speech. Standing just behind Hermer, with his face obscured, was Ben Nunn, the chief of staff to the chancellor, Rachel Reeves. Nunn, who worked for Starmer while Labour was in opposition, has been one of the prime minister's most trusted aides, playing a key role linking No 10 and No 11 operations.
