Outgoing UK PM Starmer Says Successor Must Stay Engaged Globally

Outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has cautioned his likely successor, Andy Burnham, against focusing only on domestic issues while neglecting international crises.

Speaking in his first interview since announcing his resignation on June 22, Starmer said global instability would continue to shape the responsibilities of whoever leads the ruling Labour Party next.

Burnham, the former mayor of Manchester, is currently the sole candidate in the race and may become prime minister by mid-July.

“Whoever’s my successor is going to face the same global conflict. We keep saying, and it’s true, we’re in a more dangerous and volatile world than we’ve been in for probably most of my lifetime. That’s not just a phrase, that’s reality,” Starmer said in an interview with the BBC.

Burnham’s allies have urged the next Labour government to concentrate more heavily on domestic concerns such as rising living costs, while Burnham recently identified decentralisation as a key policy goal.

Despite this, Burnham addressed international affairs during an online Q&A session on Friday and pledged full support for Ukraine.

He said he would “100 percent” continue Starmer’s position on supporting Ukraine.

Starmer argued that separating domestic governance from international diplomacy was impossible for any British prime minister.

“There’s often this discussion — what’s the right balance between dealing with international affairs and dealing with domestic affairs? They’re one and the same thing,” he stated.

“If you’re prime minister and you care what bills are going to be like in any household around the country, you have to care about finding a lasting solution to the situation in Ukraine, you have to care about what happens in the Strait of Hormuz.”

The outgoing Labour leader also dismissed suggestions of tension between himself and Burnham.

“I’ve never had any personal animosity” towards Burnham, Starmer said, adding that he would “do everything I possibly can to make sure” the incoming administration succeeds.

Starmer, who guided Labour to a decisive victory in the 2024 general election, confirmed he would remain a member of parliament until at least the next nationwide vote.

However, he said he would refrain from constantly advising the next leader.

“I’ll be keeping my mouth shut, rather than giving constant advice to my successor about what they should be doing,” he said.

Starmer had previously insisted he would resist attempts to force him out, but eventually bowed to mounting pressure from within Labour ranks.

Reflecting on his resignation, he described it as “an intensely personal decision” made alongside his family at Chequers, the British prime minister’s country residence.

“We went to Chequers and just spent two days together as a family. And that’s when I came to my final decision,” Starmer said.

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