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The Guardian Politics22 Jun 2026

The rise and fall of Keir Starmer: where did it all go wrong?

PM’s demise after landslide victory two years ago points to an increasingly volatile and impatient electorate Historians will puzzle over this one. Of the six prime ministers that have led Britain over the last decade, with a seventh now on the way, it will be the fall of Keir Starmer that will most perplex the political analysts of the future. They will ponder a man who won a landslide victory in July 2024 only to be pushed out less than two years later, having started no illegal wars, having t

PoliticsDefence
The Guardian Politics22 Jun 2026

Keir Starmer resigns: what now? – podcast

An emotional Keir Starmer announced his resignation as prime minister and Labour leader on Monday morning, less than two years after he won a huge majority at the general election. The question now is who will replace him: will Andy Burnham sweep into No 10 uncontested? And can he make a difference where Starmer failed? Continue reading...

Politics
The Guardian Politics22 Jun 2026

European leaders pay tribute to Starmer as EU-UK summit is postponed

Ursula von der Leyen, Merz and Zelenskyy say UK PM helped increase European and Ukrainian security European leaders have paid tribute to Keir Starmer after he announced his resignation as prime minister, triggering the postponement of an upcoming EU-UK summit. The European Council president, António Costa, said “for sure we need to postpone it, but we are reassessing the opportunity to hold this new summit”. Continue reading...

The Guardian Politics22 Jun 2026

Jeffrey Donaldson found guilty of child sexual offences including rape

Former DUP leader convicted of 18 offences against two victims after high-profile trial that gripped Northern Ireland Jeffrey Donaldson has been found guilty of sexual offences against two victims who were children at the time of the abuse. The former Democratic Unionist party (DUP) leader faces a potential jail sentence after a jury at Newry crown court on Monday convicted him of 18 offences including rape, indecent assault and gross indecency. Continue reading...

Crime
The Guardian Politics22 Jun 2026

Starmer’s turn at the Podium of Doom sees him depart with good(ish) grace

The PM is another butterfly broken on the wheel of the public gaze, not quite ready to accept his own limitations They think it’s all over. It is now… It was all done with comparatively little fuss. No operational note sent out to the media. No timings given to the broadcasters. Just a small flurry of activity in the street outside No 10. Microphones and loudspeakers set up. Then the Podium of Doom. It was almost as if Keir Starmer was a little embarrassed about what was happening. Wanted as few

The Guardian Politics22 Jun 2026

Keir Starmer’s resignation speech: the six key takeaways

PM reminds listeners of his landslide general election win and achievements in office before ending with tribute to his family UK politics live – latest updates It was only a few minutes long, fewer than 750 words, and was in part almost drowned out by music blasted by anti-Brexit protesters. But there was a lot in Keir Starmer’s resignation speech – not all of it stated openly. Here we look at the key quotes and what the prime minister meant by them. Continue reading...

Politics
The Guardian Politics22 Jun 2026

Starmer has a strong green record – but a rightwing backlash weakened his plans

Prime minister was forced to row back on some policies despite strong support among voters for climate action Keir Starmer has faced a problem no Labour government has needed to deal with before. His energy and climate policies – core to solving the cost of living crisis – have come under attack from opposition parties, which have made dismantling the agenda one of their top priorities, second only to immigration, in their pitch to voters. This is new in British politics, where a cross-party con

PoliticsEconomyImmigrationEnvironment
The Guardian Politics22 Jun 2026

‘Absolute nightmare’: Brexit bellwether constituencies revisited 10 years on

From north-east Scotland to Romford, London, what do those who spoke to the Guardian during the referendum campaign make of how it all panned out? The Guardian has revisited five bellwether constituencies we reported on during the 2016 EU referendum campaign, and asked those we spoke to at the time how they now feel about Brexit a decade on from the vote. Continue reading...

Politics
The Guardian Politics22 Jun 2026

‘The King of the North’: who is the man tipped to be the next British PM? – podcast

Keir Starmer has announced he will stand down as prime minister less than two years after his election victory, kickstarting the race for who will be the next Labour leader. And with MPs nervous about the growing threat from Nigel Farage’s Reform, many are speculating that the ‘King of the North’ Andy Burnham could be next in the top job, after a thumping victory in a local byelection last weekend. Reged Ahmad speaks to North of England editor Josh Halliday about the man expected to become the n

PoliticsReform
The Guardian Politics22 Jun 2026

Andy Burnham to stand to become Labour leader and UK prime minister

Former Greater Manchester mayor will be overwhelming favourite in ensuing contest to succeed Keir Starmer Andy Burnham is to stand to become the Labour leader and therefore prime minister, the former Greater Manchester mayor who returned to parliament last week has announced. Such a move was inevitable after Burnham overwhelmingly won a byelection in Makerfield, having stood on a platform of wanting to become an MP again so as to replace Keir Starmer. Continue reading...

Politics
The Guardian Politics22 Jun 2026

From migration to Mandelson: Keir Starmer’s successes and failures in No 10

Where did it go wrong for the outgoing prime minister? And how much – if at all – did it threaten to go right? Keir Starmer pitched himself as a leader for “stability and moderation” who would rebuild Britain, after Labour’s landslide victory in the 2024 general election. But after two years which have seen unforced errors, economic headwinds, scandals and, most recently, a disastrous set of devolved, mayoral and local election results the UK is set to have its sixth prime minister in seven year

PoliticsEconomyImmigration
The Guardian Politics22 Jun 2026

Babcock says Brexit and Covid beset Royal Navy contract as profits plunge

Underlying operating profits down 19% with 2019 frigate-building programme making loss, firm reports One of the UK’s biggest defence contractors has blamed Brexit and Covid among a catalogue of problems to beset a key contract for the Royal Navy, which led its annual profits to plunge. Annual profits at Babcock International fell by almost a fifth in the year to the end of March, as the firm reported a £140m charge on its contract to build five Type 31 frigates for the Royal Navy. Continue read

Defence