Keir Starmer expected to announce resignation timetable, paving way for Burnham premiership - UK politics live

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Keir Starmer expected to announce exit timetable

Good morning. Tomorrow is the 10th anniversary of the referendum to leave the EU, which means that Wednesday is the 10th anniversary of the day David Cameron announced he was resigning as PM. After Cameron was forced out by the result of his own referendum, another three Tory PMs were forced out by their own MPs (Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss) and another was forced out by the electorate (Rishi Sunak). Keir Starmer has been PM for less than two years, but he is about to become the sixth PM forced out within a decade, being replaced almost certainly by Andy Burnham.

In the past the British used to joke about Italy being a country where prime ministers kept changing all the time. These days Italy looks like a beacon of stability, and Britain has become the place never that far from another bout of political turmoil.

Starmer spent the weekend pondering his future at Chequers. He is back in London now and – although No 10 has not confirmed this – journalists are on standby for an announcement potentially this morning.

Here is our overnight story by Peter Walker and Pippa Crerar.

While a Starmer resignation looks inevitable, we don’t know whether there will be a leadership election or (more likely) an uncontested handover of power to Burnham. And we don’t know whether Starmer will propose staying on until September, or whether the handover will be accelerated. We will find out more as the day goes on.

The crucial event is not in the diary, because it has not been confirmed, but these are the timings we do have.

11.30am: Downing Street is expected to hold a lobby briefing.

2.30pm: Andy Burnham is due to take his seat in the Commons as the new MP for Makerfield.

After 3.30pm: Keir Starmer is expected to make a Commons statement about the G7 summit last week.

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Key events

now

Starmer confirms he is resigning

51s ago

Starmer says he proved his critics wrong

2m ago

Starmer says becoming PM two years ago proudest moment of his life

1h ago

Gus O'Donnell questions whether political turmoil linked to PMs being constrained by manifesto promises

2h ago

Starmer will put 'interests of British people' first in any decision he takes, says education minister Jacqui Smith

2h ago

Keir Starmer expected to announce exit timetable

Starmer confirms he is resigning

Starmer confirms he is resign. He has spoken to the king, he says.

Starmer says he proved his critics wrong

Starmer says he proved his critics wrong.

We proved those people wrong because we changed our party, ripping out the poison of antisemitism, restoring trust on the economy, defence and national security, and becoming a party that once again stood proudly with God against our national flag.

The hard work of change was with a singular purpose, not power for power’s sake, but to change Britain for the better, to build a fairer country with dignity and respect, where everyone is seen, everyone is valued, wealth and opportunity for all, not just the privileged few.

Starmer says becoming PM two years ago proudest moment of his life

Starmer says walking up this street two years ago was the proudest moment of his life.

A new Labour government, the first in 14 years.

A page in our country’s history turned after years of disappointment and despair, the chance to change the lives of millions of people for the better.

That’s what I came into politics for.

The journey to that point was not easy.

Six years ago, I inherited a Labour party that was politically, financially and morally bankrupt.

I was told time and time again that my party was finished, that we were consigned to history, that a majority at the general election, let alone a landslide majority, was impossible.

Keir Starmer is coming out.

There is loud applause from his staff and supporters.

He looks miserable.

From my colleague Jessica Elgot

Starmer’s closest allies outside Number 10 now - his chief of staff Jill Cuthbertson, the attorney general Richard Hermer, cabinet office minister Chris Ward, Reeves’ chief of staff Ben Nunn, international aid minister Jenny Chapman. These will be the people he listened to.

These are from Steven Swinford from the Times on the conversations that led up to Keir Starmer’s announcement.

* Exchanges with Cabinet ministers were brutal on Friday, more so than previously reported. Starmer tried to convince ministers that Burnham needed to prove himself by helping Labour win Greater Manchester mayoralty. One Cabinet minister shot back that the PM was a ‘drag on the ticket’ and made it less likely they would win. ‘No one supports you any more,’ they said

* Starmer’s reticence in standing down - despite all evidence that it is over - stems from two things. First, animus towards Burnham. He believes, with some justification, that ever since he became Labour leader the mayor of Greater Manchester has tried to undermine him at his weakest moments. He also thinks Burnham is not a ‘substantive’ politician.

* Second, his wife Victoria has argued strongly that he should fight on. One ally said her counsel in Starmer’s final decision should not be underestimated. “She has been the one urging him to fight it,” the ally said. “And she’s the one who’s with him.”

From ITV’s Paul Brand

The podium has now been wheeled out in No10. Keir Starmer is expected to make a statement imminently - within 10 mins or so.

Peter Walker

There are now some Downing Street staff beginning to assemble at the far end of the street.

Peter Walker

Peter Walker is a senior Guardian political correspondent, who is in Downing Street.

Outside No 10 they have just tested some speakers …

There is a sense of activity stepping up in Downing Street, with officials making sure the media are behind barriers, and otherwise dashing around. It feels like it should be soon now …

And now the lectern is out.

The BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg has posted this on social media.

All the signs are there in Number 10 that Starmer statement is not far off

Jessica Elgot

Jessica Elgot is the Guardian’s deputy political editor.

A July transition is the strong preference from many of the most influential figures around Andy Burnham - if there is no other candidate in a leadership contest.

There is a fear among some of his supporters that a longer transition would leave a vacuum for Burnham’s opponents - and online agitators - to start damaging the incoming prime minister before he took power. “There are pros and cons, but we have told the country we are ready to make him prime minister and we should make good on that,” said one.

The Guardian reported in May that the main aim of Burnham’s team was to ensure he was in place to give the leader’s speech by Labour party conference in mid-September - and to give him time to make preparations for entering government.

But there are growing fears of a scenario similar to when Boris Johnson was a “lame duck” prime minister during the summer of 2022 when there was an energy crisis and no government intervention.

No 10 is gearing up for an announcement. This is from the BBC’s Henry Zeffman.

The equipment for a lectern moment is being assembled in Downing Street