Statement on the Prime Minister’s resignation

I want to thank Keir Starmer for his public service and for the positive change he has delivered since becoming the Leader of the Labour Party.

I regret that we are here. After 14 years in opposition and a historic majority winning election just two years ago, we had the opportunity to deliver the change working people deserved and voted for.

We’ve achieved a programme we can be proud of, and in politics it can be a little too easy to skirt over these in search of the latest intrigue or drama, of which this is clearly a heightened moment.

Investment in the NHS has reduced waiting lists. Expanding free school meals and ending the two-child benefit limit has helped lift children out of poverty. We have brought rail ownership back into public hands, taken a different approach to international crises standing much more confidently on issues like Iran, and challenged social media companies to do more to protect children online.

We have to be honest about where we needed to be better. There was too much of the last two years which were marked by basic political errors of judgement followed by u-turns, and caution suppressing conviction.

We also cannot ignore the message which came loud and clear in the recent May elections. Even with good local records our councillors and candidates couldn’t withstand the mood against the government and they deserved better.

In 2024 people voted for Labour for bold change and for an end to the status quo which held them back and meant working life was getting harder and harder. We need to be bolder on building an economy that works for working people, and rebuild public services so that we aren’t constantly paying for failure while communities go without the basic services they deserve.

That requires not just a policy change but a cultural change. Everything we do has to make a difference to the lives and communities of those who Labour was created to represent; working people.

We have a short amount of time to show people that we have listened, learned, and are ready to act.

I wish Keir well in what follows for him personally.