Starmer resigns as UK's prime minister, succumbing to political pressure

By — Nick Schifrin Nick Schifrin By — Sonia Kopelev Sonia Kopelev By — Maya Bowles Maya Bowles Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/starmer-resigns-as-uks-prime-minister-succumbing-to-political-pressure Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript Audio British Prime Minister Starmer resigned Monday, setting in motion a process to replace him that will produce the country’s seventh prime minister in 10 years. Starmer came to office just two years ago atop a landslide victory, but dissatisfaction with his government grew quickly, leading to a mutiny within his own Labour Party. Romilly Weeks of ITV News reports. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. Nick Schifrin: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned today, setting in motion a process to replace him that will produce the seventh prime minister in 10 years. Starmer came to office just two years ago atop a landslide victory, ousting the Conservative Party that had governed the United Kingdom for nearly 15 years. But dissatisfaction with his government grew quickly, leading to a mutiny within his own Labor Party, and now a single likely replacement. Romilly Weeks of ITV News reports. Romilly Weeks: It's become a painfully familiar bit of furniture, and it could only herald one thing, the lectern maneuvered into position, the banks of cameras trained, as Britain's sixth prime minister since the Brexit referendum became the fifth to resign before their time was up. (Mouin Rabbani) Romilly Weeks: Keir Starmer first wanting to show it hadn't all been for nothing. Keir Starmer, British Prime Minister: Look at what we have achieved in just two years. Romilly Weeks: Then, watched by those M.P.s still loyal, he faced the writing on the wall. Keir Starmer: 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. Every decision I have taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labor Party. Romilly Weeks: He had wanted, he had intended to fight on. But four years after Boris Johnson said the same, Keir Starmer has also bowed to the inevitable, leaving in a way he can never have imagined when he walked victorious up this street just two years ago. David Lammy, British Deputy Prime Minister: His guiding compass has been to put the country first and to ensure that this next stage and phase is as orderly as possible. That is the measure of the man. Romilly Weeks: You were one of those backing the prime minister right to the end. Will you now back Andy Burham? David Lammy: Oh, look I have been loyal to every leader of the Labor Party and every prime minister. I have been loyal to this one. I will be loyal to the next. Rom