‘Britain Is Not Ungovernable’ — Badenoch Attacks Starmer Following Resignation

Leader of the UK Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch

‘Britain Is Not Ungovernable’ — Badenoch Attacks Starmer Following Resignation

Leader of the UK Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has launched a blistering attack on outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer, describing him as “a terrible Prime Minister” following his shock resignation after less than two years in office. Starmer announced his resignation on Monday, June 22, after months of mounting political pressure, poor electoral performances, and growing public dissatisfaction. The announcement came after Labour suffered heavy losses in local council elections in May, shedding more than 1,000 seats, and following intense pressure from senior cabinet ministers urging him to set out an exit timetable. Starmer’s departure makes him the sixth UK prime minister in a decade to announce a premature departure from office.

Reacting in a post on X, Badenoch blamed Starmer’s administration for what she described as a series of policy failures, insisting Britain was “not ungovernable.” She accused the Labour government of hiking National Insurance contributions, introducing what she called the “Family Farm Tax,” abandoning meaningful welfare reforms, underfunding defence, failing to expand domestic oil and gas production, and appointing Peter Mandelson before allegedly misleading the public about the circumstances. “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,” she wrote. “Britain is not ungovernable. Keir Starmer is a terrible Prime Minister,” she declared.

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The Conservative leader argued that the problem extended beyond Starmer personally, accusing Labour lawmakers of prioritising higher taxes to fund increased welfare spending. “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,” Badenoch added. She called for a return to Conservative leadership, saying, “We need to get Britain working again. We need the Conservatives.”

In his resignation speech outside 10 Downing Street, the outgoing prime minister said every decision he took had been motivated by putting Britain first and pledged to remain in office until Labour elects a new leader. He became emotional and broke down in tears as he finished his speech, thanking his wife, Vic, for her support and expressing his desire to spend more time with his family. “The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election,” Starmer said. “I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question, and I accept that answer with good grace.” He revealed that nominations for the Labour leadership would open on July 9 and close before Parliament’s summer recess on July 16, with the transition expected to be completed by September.

Former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who was sworn in as MP for Makerfield hours after Starmer’s resignation, has already announced he will put himself forward for the leadership. His main rival, former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, has withdrawn from the race and endorsed Burnham, clearing his path to become the next Prime Minister. Burnham, 56, has pledged to focus on economic growth, the cost-of-living crisis, public services, housing, and opportunities for younger generations. If elected, he would have to resign as mayor of Greater Manchester, a post he has held since 2017, triggering an early election for that office. Britain is set to have its seventh prime minister in a decade, underlining the political instability that has characterised the country since the Brexit referendum in 2016.