Saying that while he was the person to lead two years ago, he was no longer the leader to take the Labour Party forward to success in the next General Election, Sir Keir Starmer stepped down as Prime Minister on Monday morning.
He said that he accepted the decision of the parliamentary party who now want a new leader “with good grace”.
The Labour PM who has had the shortest term of any Labour Prime Minister in history, appeared to take little of the blame for any u-turns and indecision of the last two years which affect all age groups, and which most critics say is the real reason for his downfall.
The Prime Minister said that half a million children have been lifted out of poverty because of his choices, and the number of small boat crossings had reduced.
But, one of the first decisions he made as Prime Minister was to cut the winter fuel payment for pensioners – later changing his mind. There was no mention of that in the speech this morning or the other u-turns he has been much criticised for.
This is a Prime Minister who – or whose government – changed its mind on freezing the threshold for student loans, had to be told that postponing some of the local elections in England due to the expense of holding a poll would not be lawful, changed its view on a digital ID scheme, changed its mind on the inheritance tax threshold for farmers, on changing the benefits system, and particularly Personal Independence Payments, to save money, Starmer changed his mind into calling for an inquiry into grooming gangs, and muddied the waters on immigration saying the country could become an “island of strangers”.
It was the two child benefit cap which yet again tripped up a British government – the policy which had been introduced by Conservatives, denying any parent child benefit for a third child. Starmer did nothing to help the so-called WASPI women who remain without any compensation. Yet The Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign had been supported by many Labour politicians when they were in opposition.
Any change in employment rights has not progressed through parliament further than the Lords.
Income tax and national insurance payments have increased during the last two years.
After some initial delay the government did ramp up spending on defence, although the resignation of John Healey as Defence Minister just ten days ago calls into question if there is enough funding to equip our armed forces.
There was also Peter Mandelson, who Starmer chose as US ambassador without recognising any warning signs in the process.
Starmer reflected that he arrived two years ago to establish the first Labour government for 14 years and “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 Labor 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, but we proved those people wrong,”
Sir Keir said that he has changed the economy to one which is stronger with “infrastructure being built, an end to austerity with the fastest fall in NHS waiting lists for 17 years”.
Tracy Gilbert, MP for Edinburgh North and Leith, said on Monday morning: “Keir Starmer led the Labour Party to a historic landslide victory in 2024, ending fourteen years of Conservative government. Since then, he has overseen a period of significant reform and renewal under the most difficult circumstances. He led the biggest improvement in workers’ and renters’ rights in a generation, alongside the introduction of the Employment Rights Bill, which formed part of a wider programme to rebuild economic security and fairness. He has rebuilt our relationship with Europe and has proven to have been able to represent the UK’s interests on the international stage.
“Most importantly, he lifted hundreds of thousands of people out of poverty through deliberate policy choices aimed at improving lives across the UK including the removal of the two-child benefit cap.
“I wish him and his family well for the future and thank him for his service to the country at a pivotal moment in its history.”
Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar convened a press conference in Glasgow at lunchtime to deliver his comments. He said: “I will always be proud of the work we did together to end 14 years of Tory government, returning 37 Scottish MPs, securing shipbuilding on the Clyde for a generation, ending austerity and lifting half a million children out of poverty.”
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “Having jumped before he was pushed by Labour MPs, Sir Keir Starmer will be remembered as the Prime Minister of U-turns and broken promises.
“But putting Andy Burnham into Downing Street changes nothing because our country will still be stuck with a left-wing Labour government that will only ever increase people’s taxes while failing to tackle the out-of-control benefits bill.
“And they’re too arrogant to end their idiotic war on Scotland’s oil and gas sector, despite our party’s seismic victory in Aberdeen South.
“Fundamentally, this failing Labour government will take the same damaging approach seen by the SNP administration, which spells double disaster for Scotland.”
Scottish Greens Co-leader Gillian Mackay MSP said: “Keir Starmer promised integrity and change but has delivered disgrace and failure.
“His most immoral decision was to arm, support and enable Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people. It will go down alongside Tony Blair’s bloodstained invasion of Iraq as one of the worst decisions of any Prime Minister this century.”
“He was a human rights lawyer, but his government has attacked the rights of pensioners and disabled people and inflicted cruel anti-migrant laws, while abandoning much-needed efforts to tackle the climate emergency. It is not a legacy anyone should be proud of.
“The only change delivered by Starmer has been the colour of the rosette on the man forcing austerity on the people of Scotland. It’s time for real change, not more of the same from Labour politicians in the pocket of corporate lobbyists and billionaires.”
On the upcoming Labour leadership contest, Gillian added: “There is no reason to think Andy Burnham will be any better. The problem isn’t the person behind the wheel; it is a party that once worked to serve the interests of working people but now serves only the interests of billionaires and their corporate donors.
“The early signs are not good. He’s already U-turned on policies left, right and centre, refused to call the horrific war crimes in Gaza a genocide, and he has promised to build heinous Trump-style immigration detention camps.
“This isn’t a man that will deliver change for Scotland. Our country deserves better than being trapped in Labour’s feuds while we face the real prospect of Nigel Farage in Downing Street.
“If Andy Burnham has any belief in democracy then he must urgently allow the people of Scotland the power to hold a referendum so that we can end Westminster’s chaos and deliver real change through independence.”
STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said: “Winning a mandate that promises change then failing to deliver it has been the mortal wounding of the Prime Minister.
“Whilst, undoubtedly, it takes time and undoing 14 years of ruinous Tory austerity to our communities doesn’t happen overnight, grave missteps over the two-child benefit cap, the winter fuel payment and welfare reforms that would make George Osborne blush had his card marked. His continued tolerance of the ongoing genocide in Palestine and failure to protect those seeking asylum has caused deep concern within our movement that cannot be overlooked.
“The Labour UK Government does deserve credit for delivering long-standing demands from trade unions for improved employment rights but we simply must go further and faster in uprating wages, delivering secure work and having an industrial policy that invests in workers and their future.
“The local and Scottish Parliament elections just past show that workers are no longer showing loyalty to a political hegemony that doesn’t serve them. The Labour Party, if it is to recover and win the trust back of working-class people, must do some deep soul searching and give people a vision to believe in – one of equality, dignity and fairness for our class and our communities.”
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