Anger, smugness and calls for election – How party leaders reacted to Starmer’s resignation

Given that Prime Ministers announcing their resignations from the steps of Downing Street is becoming an alarmingly regular occourence, one element has become almost as important.

The reaction of opposition leaders.

It might seem obvious that the prominent figures in other parties would dance on the grave of a deposed Prime Minister, but in fact it is something of a political tightrope.

Because, as the outpouring of goodwill towards Sir Keir Starmer has proved, with fulsome tribute from even those who called for him to quit, even the most unpopular politicians can be given a boost in their public standing when they throw in the towel.

That means those that look too smug or mocking can risk something of a backlash.

With Sir Keir confirming his departure, and Andy Burnham all-but-guaranteed to replace him, here is what the party leaders across the country, and political spectrum, have said about the now ex Labour boss.

Nigel Farage: I deposed Starmer – and we need a general election

There was no sign of any magnanimity or modesty from the leader of Reform – who are currently leading in the polls.

Taking to his new Substack (a platform he started using in a bid to circumvent ‘biased’ media), Farage immediately claimed credit for Starmer’s defenestration.

The Reform leader wrote: ‘Starmer isn’t the first Prime Minister I’ve deposed, and he won’t be the last. David Cameron. Theresa May. Rishi Sunak.

‘And next up – Andy Burnham. The reason each leader has failed is the same.’

In what looks to be a preview of Reform’s attack line on the man set to replace Sir Keir, Farage immediately questioned the democratic legitimacy of a Prime Minister who wasn’t even in parliament during the last election.

The Clacton MP, who also called for a general election, added: ‘I happen to believe that a mandate from the British people matters.

‘I’ve had enough of waiting around. Britain needs change – real change, not another washed-up has-been shoved into place by the uniparty.

‘If Labour thinks it can shove another professional politician into No 10, it has another thing coming. Reform is ready for an election, and we are ready to deliver radical change.’

Kemi Badenoch: The problem is much more than Starmer

On Rishi Sunak’s final day as Conservative leader, Sir Keir decided to take the high road, paying tribute to his predecessor’s ‘hard work, commitment, and decency.’

Kemi Badenoch is a very different personality, and there was never going to be any chance of her returning the favour to Starmer.

On X, the Tory Leader shared a list of Starmer’s apparent failings, writing: ‘Hiking national insurance The Family Farm Tax, giving up on real welfare reform, not funding our defence, not drilling our own oil and gas, appointing Peter Mandelson…then lying about what had happened.’

Badenoch went on to talk about the chaos of changing leader, posting: ‘Britain is not ungovernable.

‘Keir Starmer is a terrible Prime Minister. But the problem isn’t just Starmer. Labour MPs only want higher taxes to hand out more benefits, as the Welfare Secretary has pointed out.

‘These are Labour’s choices and their values, regardless of who is running the party.’

Ed Davey: End the merry-go-round

Sir Ed Davey, who has been the Lib Dem leader since 2019, now represents a rare constant in British politics – there was more of a note of sorrow.

In a statement, Davey said: ‘The British people are sick of being let down by an endless merry-go-round of Prime Ministers while nothing really changes for them.

‘This time must be different. It can’t just be about changing who’s in Number 10, it has to be about changing our broken politics so we can fix our country.’

Zack Polanski: Farewell Starmer, gauntlet laid down to Burnham

The Green Party leader, who watched his candidate secure less than 1% of the vote in last week’s by-election that has catapulted Andy Burnham to the brink of Number 10, took aim at the former Mayor of Manchester while attacking Starmer.

He wrote: ‘Starmer lost the confidence of the country because of his abject failure to challenge the power and wealth of an establishment which has taken for themselves while leaving the vast majority in a cost of living crisis.’

Acutely aware of the threat that the favourite to replace Sir Keir poses to his party if he unites progressive voters, Polanski went on to say: ‘We are still waiting to see which version of Andy Burnham is going to show up in Downing Street.

‘The time for half measures and sticking plasters is long gone – Burnham must be bold or he will be bust.’

Other leaders -sympathy and conspiracy

Among the leaders of smaller parties, John Swinney stood out for his more human approach, with the SNP First Minister posting ‘on a personal level, I wish Keir Starmer and his family well. Leadership places extraordinary demands on those who serve, and on the families who support them.’

He went on to, unsurprisingly, say that the solution for Scotland to this chaos was independence.

A similar note was struck by Sinn Féin leader and Northern Irish FM Michelle O’Neill, who wrote: ‘(Starmer’s) departure underscores the chaos of Westminster and how our future is better served by breaking our links with Britain.’

Plaid Cymru, whose success in May’s Welsh elections sparked some of the movement against the Prime Minister, with Rhun ap Iorwerth echoing his fellow nationalists’ statements, posting: ‘The chaos in Westminster has made it difficult for Wales to get the engagement we need.

‘The next PM must commit to a new relationship with Wales – with a focus on greater powers, fair funding and respect for our mandate.’

On the far-right, Rupert Lowe of the resurgent Restore party, went down the more conspiratorial route, accusing the Prime Minister of ‘deliberately and rapidly accelerating the destruction of Britain.’

The former Reform MP added: ‘I do not believe him to be a good man or a patriot.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.