Outgoing UK PM Starmer Warns Successor Not to Ignore Global Crises

Britain’s outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned his probable successor, Andy Burnham, that he cannot ignore international turmoil to focus solely on the country’s domestic problems. The warning came in an interview released on Saturday, his first since announcing his resignation on June 22.

Starmer stated that his successor as leader of the ruling Labour Party would face the same global conflicts. “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,” he told the BBC.

Burnham, the former Manchester mayor, is currently the only candidate to take over the party and could be in office by mid-July. His supporters have suggested he should put more focus on domestic issues like the cost of living and decentralisation of government.

However, Starmer stressed that the two areas are deeply connected. “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,” he said.

In a social media session on Friday, Burnham stated he would “100pc” give the same support to Ukraine as Starmer. Starmer, who led Labour to victory in the 2024 election, confirmed he will remain in parliament until the next vote.