British PM Starmer announces decision to resign, leaving his rival Burnham as likely successor

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Monday he would resign, giving his fellow Labour Party member and political rival Andy Burnham the opportunity to become the United Kingdom's seventh prime minister in the past 10 years.

“The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election. I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question, and I accept that answer with good grace,” Starmer told supporters outside No. 10 Downing Street, NBC News reported. 

Speculation that Starmer would resign had spread through the weekend, coming from various sources, including President Donald Trump, after Burnham won a seat in Parliament on Friday, putting the former mayor of Greater Manchester in position to mount a formal leadership challenge.

Shortly after Starmer's announcement, Burnham said he would seek to replace Starmer. 

Starmer said he had told King Charles III he intended to step down but would remain in the position until his replacement is selected.