British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday announced his resignation as both prime minister and leader of the Labour Party, acknowledging that he no longer had the confidence of his party to lead it into the next general election.

Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, Starmer said the Labour Party had answered the question of whether he remained the right person to lead, adding that he accepted the decision “with good grace.” He said every major decision during his time in office had been made with the country’s interests at heart.

Reflecting on his leadership, Starmer said he inherited a party that was politically, financially and morally weakened and worked to rebuild its credibility. He highlighted reforms aimed at restoring public confidence in Labour, including efforts to tackle anti-Semitism and strengthen the party’s reputation on the economy, defence and national security.

Starmer confirmed he had informed King Charles of his decision and said Labour’s National Executive Committee would open nominations for a new leader on July 9. The party plans to complete the leadership contest before Parliament’s summer recess so that a new leader can take office before lawmakers return in September.

He will remain prime minister in a caretaker capacity until a successor is chosen to ensure an orderly transition. During his farewell remarks, Starmer thanked his wife, Vic, for her unwavering support and said he now wanted to spend more time with his family.

The resignation is expected to trigger a closely watched Labour leadership contest, with Andy Burnham widely regarded as the leading contender to replace Starmer.