Portsmouth MPs thank Starmer as he resigns after leadership challenge

Portsmouth’s Labour MPs have thanked Keir Starmer for bringing “Labour back from the brink” after he announced his resignation this morning.

Starmer confirmed he would step down outside 10 Downing Street following a leadership challenge from Andy Burnham, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester, who decisively won the Makerfield parliamentary by-election last week – securing more votes than all other candidates combined.

The result cast doubt over Starmer’s position over the weekend, with speculation mounting until he made the announcement this morning.

In a joint statement, Portsmouth North and South MPs Amanda Martin and Stephen Morgan said: “Keir Starmer is a good man of great integrity who has devoted his career to public service. He brought Labour back from the brink recovering from our worst result in living memory and won a historic landslide majority to take us back to power and change Britain for the better.

“He has led our country through a time of great challenges at home and abroad. While the true scale of his achievements may not be fully realised yet, history will judge him well. The Labour Party and the entire nation owe a great deal to his leadership.

“Thank you, Keir. We are incredibly proud of your service to our country, and whoever we choose to lead next will have our loyal support as we continue serving the country we love.”

Starmer’s premiership has attracted heavy criticism, according to polls he is among the most unpopular PMs in modern history.

Cutting the winter fuel payment, appointing Peter Mandelson despite his links to Jeffrey Epstein and a series of U-turns have cast doubt over his leadership.

Generally, he has been criticised for his lack of clear vision, direction and ability to connect with the public.

He has received praise for strengthening workers’ and renters’ rights, reducing NHS waiting lists, and scrapping the two-child benefit cap, albeit under pressure from his backbench MPs.

Since Starmer’s resignation, Andy Burnham has confirmed he will launch a leadership bid, with backing from Wes Streeting, Starmer’s former health secretary.

On social media, Mr Burnham thanked Starmer for his dedication and said “this transition is a positive process of renewal for our party and our country”.

Liberal Democrat candidate for Portsmouth South, Charlie Murphy said people “are sick of being let down by an endless merry-go-round of Prime Ministers, while nothing really changes for them.

“Labour promised change but we’ve ended up with the same old chaos as under the Conservatives.

“It’s time to end this Westminster soap opera and get on with delivering positive change for people in our city.

“That means tackling soaring bills to help the cost of living, fixing the NHS so people can see a GP and dentist when they need to, and listening to our city when 82 per cent of people say ‘Hands off Portsmouth’.

“Whoever becomes Prime Minister needs to end the chaos and focus on getting the country back on track.”