Keir Starmer resignation - what happens next?
Sir Keir Starmer says he will remain in office until a successor is in place - we take a look at when that might be.
Sir Keir Starmer has officially announced his resignation as Prime Minister after weeks of his own MPs turning their backs on him.
In his resignation speech, he said he would stay on as Prime Minister until a replacement is found.
It is looking increasingly likely that it will be a coronation for Andy Burnham, who returns to the House of Commons after winning the Makerfield by-election last week.
His main challenger was thought to be former health secretary Wes Streeting, but since Sir Keir’s resignation statement he has come out in support of Mr Burnham instead.
Here is what we can expect over the next few weeks.
June 22
Sir Keir Starmer announces his intention to stand down as Labour leader and Prime Minister, but says he will stay in position until his replacement is appointed.
9 July
Nominations to stand as a candidate for Labour leader officially open.
16 July
This marks the start of the Westminster summer recess, and also marks the close of nominations to stand to be Labour leader.
If more than one candidate is nominated for leadership, a contest will be triggered. However, given Wes Streeting has come out in support of Andy Burnham, a contest is looking increasingly unlikely.
So far, 100 Labour MPs have turned their backs on Sir Keir. However, at least 81 need to back an alternative candidate.
1 September
Westminster returns from its summer recess. In his resignation speech, Sir Keir said a new leader would be in place by this point in time.
What is needed to stand?
At least 81 MPs in the parliamentary Labour group in the House of Commons need to back a candidate before they can stand in a leadership contest.
They then need to receive nominations from either 5 per cent of constituency Labour parties, or three affiliated organisations (including two trade unions).
A winner is chosen once they get more than 50 per cent of first preference votes from the Labour Party. If there is a contest, the party’s national executive committee will set out a full timetable.
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