Keir Starmer resigns. What’s next?
6/22/202620 min
The prime minister has resigned after less than two years in Downing Street.
In this extra episode, Beth Rigby and Harriet Harman react to a dramatic morning in Westminster and ask the question now hanging over Labour: has the party failed, or is this the reset it desperately needed? And could Andy Burnham be the answer?
Beth takes listeners inside the final hours of Starmer's premiership, from cabinet pressure to the emotional resignation speech on the steps of Number 10.
Harriet reflects on Sir Keir’s legacy and why Labour MPs decided he couldn’t lead them into the next election. And did Nigel Farage play a part in Starmer’s departure?
With Andy Burnham now the overwhelming favourite to succeed him, they also discuss what happens next, whether Labour is heading for a coronation rather than a contest, and if Burnham can succeed where Starmer could not.
We’ll be back tomorrow for our Sky News Insider subscribers - find out how to subscribe here: https://skynews.com/electoraldysfunction
Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.
Sky News Insider requires a paid subscription and is available to UK listeners aged 18 and over.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSpeaker 10:00
[upbeat music] Grainger knows when you're a procurement manager for an office park, you're not managing one building, you're managing all of them. And to stay ahead, you need to see through walls and around corners. Lights about to fail? Filters ready to clog? HVAC on its last leg? If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, easy reordering, and 24/7 support. Call 1-800-GRAINGER, click grainger.com, or just stop by. Grainger, for the ones who get it done.
Beth Rigby· Host0:29
[upbeat music] Andy Burnham, what is he gonna do differently? They went, "You can't govern on vibes."
Harriet Harman· Host0:39
There really were three reasons why he failed. Firstly, his own mistakes.
Beth Rigby· Host0:46
I'm quite frankly indignant that someone could have a coronation without documenting how they are qualified. Hello, and welcome to Electoral Dysfunction with me, Beth Rigby.
Harriet Harman· Host1:05
And me, Harriet Harman.
Beth Rigby· Host1:07
And I have hotfooted it to the studio from Downing Street, where I have just witnessed Keir Starmer resigning as the prime minister, the sixth British prime minister to resign in 10 years, meaning we're soon gonna be on to our seventh prime minister, and the idea of it being Andy Burnham is now not looking like a question mark, but it's looking