Starmer resigned: The Prime Minister failed because of this

Keir Starmer looked exhausted as he announced his resignation in front of the famous black door of 10 Downing Street. The British Prime Minister has experienced a number of crises in the almost two years since his triumphant election victory on July 5, 2024 – in many of which he himself played a major role. The pressure had been growing steadily for months. Now it’s over.

The British Prime Minister announced his resignation on Monday. “The question my party is currently asking itself is whether I am best suited to lead us into the next general election. I have heard my group’s answer to this question and I accept this answer with dignity,” he said.

The political spiraling course

When he took office, Starmer announced that he would bring more seriousness back into politics after years of chaos among the Conservatives. He wanted to initiate social reforms, bring the country closer to Europe again and renovate the ailing health system. But he was only able to keep a few of his promises and lacked a big vision for the country often referred to as “broken Britain”.

Starmer had to withdraw a number of reform projects, including cutting state subsidies for heating costs for older people. Each time it was the resistance within his own ranks that tripped him up. His hesitant approach to the defense budget even cost him his defense minister, John Healey.

His last big announcement – the ban on social media for under-16s – couldn’t turn things around.

The lost super election day

It had been apparent for some time that the mood was turning to Starmer’s disadvantage. The severe defeat of Labor’s Social Democrats in the local and regional elections in England, Scotland and Wales in May was seen as a turning point.
The right-wing populists around Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage and his Reform UK party emerged as the big winners, making significant gains in all parts of the country. At that time, Starmer assured that he would convince his doubters. But in the weeks that followed, several ministers turned their backs on him and support within the party dwindled.

Dealing with right-wing populists

From the start, the prime minister had problems with the rise of Reform. He didn’t even touch on the topic of Brexit, even though the majority of Brits are now skeptical about leaving the EU.

Instead, Starmer desperately tried to win back traditional Labor supporters with tough messages on immigration. He realized far too late that he was alienating moderate voters. For example, when he warned in a speech that Great Britain could become an “island of strangers” – and thus triggered an outcry.

The Peter Mandelson case

One of Starmer’s biggest pitfalls was his decision to appoint party veteran and former business minister Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US. Initially, the scandal-ridden politician was seen as a wise choice to deal with the fickle US President Donald Trump. But Mandelson, who was once a close friend of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, soon became a heavy burden. The Mandelson affair did not end with his expulsion, but stuck with Starmer until the end.

The foreign politician without authority

Starmer repeatedly tried to position himself as a pioneer in European security issues. Together with French President Emmanuel Macron, he called together Ukraine’s supporters in the war against Russia in the so-called Coalition of the Willing. A similar network was established to secure the Strait of Hormuz after the end of the Iran War, each with German participation.

Despite flattery and the historic invitation to a second state visit, Starmer was unable to maintain the initially good relationship with US President Donald Trump. When Britain was hesitant about allowing bases on its own territory to be made available for the American-Israeli war in Iran, the mood changed.

Starmer was no Winston Churchill, said Trump, referring to the legendary British wartime prime minister, and from then on he regularly fired shots at him. Most recently, he mocked Starmer by anticipating his resignation announcement with a social media post.

The big rival

Keir Starmer’s popularity ratings had been in the basement for months and the Labor government was having a difficult time overall. However, one person was the exception: Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. The so-called “King of the North”, who is now likely to become the new party and government leader, is currently the most popular Labor politician in the country.

As mayor of Manchester, the 56-year-old has earned a reputation as a doer – someone who understands ordinary people because he is one himself. In contrast to Starmer, Burnham is considered charismatic.

Almost ten years ago, after a failed attempt to become the party leader, Burnham turned his back on London and set out to strengthen the economically lagging north of the country. He was quite successful in Manchester. Thanks to the victory in the by-election in the Makerfield district, it was now possible to return to the capital – and with Starmer’s resignation, the chance to inherit him.