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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
The Guardian Politics22 Jun 2026

Keir Starmer’s fatal flaw? The blankness on to which voters projected their years of frustration | John Harris

His government was directionless and confused, and from that murk emerged the Peter Mandelson scandal On a bone-chillingly cold morning in January, it felt as if I had suddenly found at least part of the reason for Keir Starmer’s chronic unpopularity. I was in the Mancunian constituency of Gorton and Denton, where the prime minister and his people’s decision to block Andy Burnham from standing was about to hand victory to the Green party. More specifically, I was in a forlorn covered market abou

Environment
The Guardian Politics22 Jun 2026

Frozen by the challenges of power: how Starmer turned triumph into tragedy

Starmer appeared ruthless in banishing the influence of Jeremy Corbyn, and winning power – but far less certain on how to wield it Few would describe him as a dramatic man, but Keir Starmer’s political career has been almost Shakespearean in its trajectory: a mere 11 years to enter parliament, lead Labour to an election win many assumed was impossible and then, inside the final two years, throw it all away. His demise is, of course, a reflection of an unprecedented era, one in which voter loyalt

Politics
The Guardian Politics22 Jun 2026

Keir Starmer to step down as prime minister two years after historic election victory

Labour leader bows to mounting pressure after Andy Burnham’s success against Reform UK in Makerfield Keir Starmer has announced he will stand down as prime minister after days of intense pressure from Labour MPs, including cabinet ministers, following the return of Andy Burnham to Westminster. Less than two years after a historic election victory, Starmer had faced calls from his MPs to set out a timeline for his departure, with many of them spooked by the threat from Nigel Farage’s party ahead

PoliticsReform
The Guardian Politics22 Jun 2026

Don’t worry, a politician can’t present the Today programme. Michael Grade is wrong about that – and GB News | Stewart Purvis and Chris Banatvala

As the former Ofcom chair says extraordinary things about the rightwing channel and its critics, a factcheck would not go amiss • Stewart Purvis is a former editor in chief of ITN; Chris Banatvala is a former Ofcom director of standards During a review of his four years at Ofcom, the outgoing chair, Michael Grade, surprised his BBC Radio 4 interviewer. He had been asked by Katie Razzall whether Ofcom rules would allow a politician to present the Today programme apart from the news bulletins. She

Defence
The Guardian Politics22 Jun 2026

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

It’s still unclear whether there will be a leadership contest or an uncontested handover of power Starmer expected to announce exit plan to clear way for Burnham to become PM ‘A shift has taken place’: Starmer faces the music after weekend of reflection 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 o

Politics