Outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described his decision to resign as a deeply personal choice in his first interview since stepping down last month.
“It was challenging,” Starmer told the BBC. “I’m not going to pretend otherwise,” he said, reflecting on the difficulty of the choice.
“I weighed what was best for me, for the country, and for the government,” he explained. “Ultimately, it became an intensely personal decision.”
Starmer also warned his likely successor, former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who recently returned to Parliament after winning the Makerfield by-election in June.
He said the next prime minister cannot afford to devote less attention to diplomacy and global affairs, given the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Iran.
“The biggest impact on cost of living, household income, and living standards in recent years has stemmed from two major crises: the conflict in Ukraine and the situation in Iran,” he said.
“If you are prime minister and you care about the bills families face across the country, you must address a lasting solution to the situation in Ukraine. You must also consider what happens in the Strait of Hormuz,” he added.
Starmer noted that he has always got on with Burnham, but he has faced criticism for spending considerable time abroad and meeting world leaders, with some dubbing him “never here Keir”.
Burnham, by contrast, has focused on domestic issues as he seeks to lead the Labour Party, pledging to end trickle‑down economics and neoliberal policies.
After his victory in Makerfield, Burnham said Labour has a “final chance to change” and will “build a new politics based on unity and hope”.
Also Read
- Vanguard VT vs State Street SPDW Global ETF Showdown. Which World-Spanning Fund Is the Better Buy?
- Turkey and Pakistan Commit to Boosting Bilateral Trade to $5 Billion
- Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop the Music” Climbs New Heights on Global Charts
- Erdogan and PM Shehbaz Conduct Joint Press Conference in Istanbul
