Donald Trump announced Keir Starmer’s resignation before Starmer did. On June 21, Trump posted on Truth Social that the British prime minister would resign, citing failures on immigration and energy. Starmer made it official the next morning.
Starmer’s collapse was thorough. His net approval rating hit −46% by late 2025, drawing comparisons to Liz Truss. Labour lost more than 1,100 council seats in the May 2026 local elections. Cabinet ministers quit. More than 80 Labour MPs called on him to go. His own party concluded he could not lead them into the next general election, and Starmer agreed, announcing June 22 that he would step aside once a successor is chosen.
The Trump-Starmer relationship had started without friction. Trump said in January 2025 that Starmer was “a very good person” who had done “a very good job.” That changed when the United States entered the Iran conflict in late February 2026 and Britain declined to join. Starmer called it “not our war.” Trump called Starmer “no Winston Churchill,” mocked the Royal Navy, and when asked about the special relationship responded, “With who?” A trade deal signed after Trump’s return to office — cutting tariffs on British cars, aluminum, and steel — remained in place, but Trump warned it “can always be changed.” The UK’s 2026 growth forecast was revised down to 0.8% from 1.3%, with the conflict cited as a contributing factor.
Andy Burnham is the only declared candidate to replace Starmer. The former mayor of Greater Manchester won the Makerfield by-election on June 18 by more than 9,200 votes, returning to Parliament for the first time since 2017 and satisfying Labour’s rule requiring leadership candidates to hold a parliamentary seat. He had 200-plus MP endorsements by June 20. Wes Streeting, considered his most serious potential rival, endorsed Burnham the day Starmer announced his exit. Labour nominations open July 9 and close July 16. If no other candidate reaches the required 20% of Labour MPs — 81 votes — Burnham becomes party leader and prime minister by July 17.
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