His final u-turn: Tearful Starmer resigns with ‘gaslighting’ exit speech
6/22/202631 min
After a turbulent tenure in Downing Street, Sir Keir Starmer has announced his resignation as Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party. Live from Downing Street, Camilla and Tim reflect on the factors that led to his exit, from the “bloodbath” in the local elections to the internal party rebellions over policy about turns.
With Andy Burnham positioning himself as a successor, they examine his ambitious policy platform and ask whether Labour can pivot quickly enough to avoid electoral wipe-out, as Reform’s Nigel Farage calls for an emergency general election.
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Studio Operator: James England
Producer: Emma Williams and Georgia Coan
Video Producer: Will Walters
Social Media Producer: Nada Aggour
Senior Producer: John Cadigan
Executive Producer: Charlotte Seligman
Editor: Camilla Tominey
Highlights:
- Why has Keir Starmer resigned less than two years into his premiership?
- Can Andy Burnham really save the party in another election?
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsKeir Starmer· Soundbite0:00
[gentle music] The Telegraph.
Camilla Tominey· Host0:05
[upbeat music] Keir Starmer resigns as prime minister in tears and gives a speech gaslighting a nation.
Tim Stanley· Host0:15
Andy Burnham has already announced his leadership campaign, and West Streeting is backing him. We're here outside Number 10 on this historic day.
Camilla Tominey· Host0:22
Welcome to The Daily Tea with me, Camilla Tominey.
Tim Stanley· Host0:25
And me, Tim Stanley.
Camilla Tominey· Host0:26
[upbeat music] Tim, it's the ultimate U-turn from Keir Starmer.
Tim Stanley· Host0:39
Oh.
Camilla Tominey· Host0:40
On Fri- ... I know it's horrible, but I'm sorry, it is true. On Friday- He was doomed the moment he said he had full confidence in himself. Indeed so. So on Friday he says, "I'm not going anywhere," and then this morning, the lectern is out, we're in Downing Street- Yeah ... only for him to say, "Actually, I am going somewhere. I'm resigning."
Tim Stanley· Host0:56
This just feels like deja vu. How often have we seen this? And it's- It's depressing ... very often on a sunny day, except for Rishi Sunak. He's the only one who got rained on. But the sun comes out, the staff come out.
Camilla Tominey· Host1:08
Yes.
Tim Stanley· Host1:08
The family comes out.
Camilla Tominey· Host1:09
Yes.
Tim Stanley· Host1:09
Hot lectern guy comes out- Yes ... to put the lectern in the middle of the street.
Camilla Tominey· Host1:12
Do you mean he's hot because of the temperature, or he was actually quite hot?
Tim Stanley· Host1:15
No, I, I think there is a consensus within Westminster that he is hot lectern guy.
Camilla Tominey· Host1:19
Right.
Tim Stanley· Host1:20
He's probably actually got a PhD in politics from the University of Harvard.
Camilla Tominey· Host1:23
Probably, yeah.
Tim Stanley· Host1:24
But he's been reduced by- Yeah ... tawdry journalists to hot lectern guy.
Camilla Tominey· Host1:27
You've gotta start somewhere, haven't you?
Unknown speaker1:29
[laughs]