Summary
Andy Burnham is sworn in as the MP for Makerfield hours after Keir Starmer announces his resignation as Labour Party leader
Burnham earlier said he would stand to replace the prime minister, with backing from former Health Secretary Wes Streeting
Streeting – who quit Starmer’s government last month – previously said he would contest any leadership race
After being sworn in, Burnham was met with whoops and cheers as he posed for pictures with about 200 Labour MPs
If there was any doubt the leadership election is over before it began, Burnham’s reception in Westminster Hall ought to expunge it, writes Henry Zeffman
Speaking outside No 10 earlier, Starmer thanked his wife in an emotional speech and said he wanted to be the “best dad I can to my beautiful children” – watch the speech in full
What happens next? Starmer says he’ll remain as PM until his successor is chosen, which will happen by the time “Parliament returns in September” – or sooner if Labour gets behind one candidate and there’s no contest
UK-EU summit postponed after Starmer’s resignation
A summit between the UK and the EU which was due to take place in Brussels on 22 July is to be postponed after Keir Starmer’s resignation.
Starmer was due to meet senior EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa for talks on food, energy and a youth mobility scheme – building on a so-called reset in UK-EU relations which the outgoing prime minister signed last year.
Starmer saw pushing for closer EU ties as central to his efforts to revive his premiership and boost growth, focusing on the issue in a major speech he gave in the wake of Labour’s disastrous local election results.
But Costa said on Monday: “Now for sure we need to postpone it, but we are reassessing the opportunity of this new summit.
“But my wish is that his successor could give continuity on this good path to reset our relationship with the United Kingdom.”
‘Where is the prime minister?’ Badenoch attacks Labour in Commons
Meanwhile in the Commons, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has been giving an update on last week’s G7 summit – a statement which, in ordinary times, would have been delivered by Keir Starmer.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch questions why Lammy has been sent to update MPs on a meeting he did not attend.
Where is the prime minister, she asks – adding that Starmer “says he needs to stay in post for three months but then doesn’t come to Parliament to do his job”.
Badenoch also criticises Andy Burnham for not attending the debate.
Trump’s relationship with next PM will come down to getting what he wants
Sarah Smith
North America editor
Trump and Starmer during the G7 summit last weekIt’s hard to imagine two men more different in their politics and personalities than Donald Trump and Keir Starmer.
But for over a year, Starmer became known as the “Trump whisperer”. By deploying flattery and avoiding public disagreements he was able to secure an early trade deal for the UK.
In his post last night predicting Starmer’s resignation hours before it was announced, Trump blamed Starmer’s “failure” on his immigration and energy policies – two issues on which they totally disagree.
Trump told me in April that if Starmer opened the North Sea to oil and gas extraction and strengthened his immigration policies, then he “can recover” – but added: “If he doesn’t, I don’t think he has a chance.”
Trump will be carefully watching what Starmer’s successor does with the Defence Investment Plan. That could be crucial for what kind of relationship the next prime minister has with Trump.
The irretrievable breakdown in the Trump-Starmer relationship came over the war in Iran. Starmer’s initial refusal to allow US forces to use UK air bases was considered unforgivable in the White House.
Trump will always maintain a special affection for the UK, based partly on his mother’s Scottish roots and his fascination with the Royal Family.
But his dealings with the British government and the next prime minister will be based only partly on their personal dynamic – and mostly on whether he is getting he wants.
