Conservative MP for South West Devon Rebecca Smith has said Keir Starmer’s government “failed to deliver” following news that the prime minister is to resign.

Sir Keir announced his intention to step down at a press conference this morning outside Number Ten after mounting pressure for him to go.

Labour won an historic landslide general election victory, with Sir Keir at the helm, in July 2024 – it was the first time in 14 years that the party had been in power.

Addressing the nation just after 9.30am this morning he said six years ago he inherited a Labour party that was “politically, financially and morally bankrupt” and that the party should be proud of what it had achieved in the two years since winning the election.

In response to the announcement of the PM’s resignation, Rebecca Smith said:  “Keir Starmer’s resignation brings to an end a government that has failed to deliver on the promises it made to the British people.

“He came into office promising change, stability and competence. Instead, his premiership became defined by damaging decisions, public backlash and a series of humiliating U-turns forced by the Conservative party.

“Farmers were targeted with the family farm tax. Pensioners lost winter fuel payments. Businesses were hit with Labour’s jobs tax. Working families faced higher costs whilst welfare spending continued to rise. Time and again, it was the Conservative party forcing Labour back to the drawing board.”

She added that whoever becomes the next Labour leader will face exactly the same problem as the party was “still full of the same MPs demanding higher spending, opposing welfare reform and calling for higher taxes to fund an ever-growing benefits bill”.

All eyes are now on Andy Burnham, the former popular Labour mayor of Greater Manchester and the favourite to succeed Sir Keir, who returned to parliament as the new MP for Makerfield after he was elected last week in massive victory over Reform UK.

Nominations for the post of PM have to be in by July 9, a decision is expected before the summer recess a week later and the new leader will be in post when parliament returns in September.

But questions have been raised by Labour members whether he was the right person to lead the party into the next election after a number of U-turns and recent heavy losses in local elections. 

Commenting on Sir Keir’s resignation, MP for Plymouth Moor View Fred Thomas said he had great respect for the role Sir Keir had played in leading Labour back into government, but he had “taken the right decision today”. 

He said:  “We saw in Makerfield that Labour can bring hope to ordinary people, unite the progressive vote, and comfortably defeat the politics of division. There is a huge opportunity to better communicate with residents the journey we are on to securing a better future for Britain.

“I have listened to residents across Plymouth who are broadly supportive of what Labour has done in Government, including saving the NHS and bringing net migration down, but were not able to support Keir Starmer personally for whatever reason. I have great respect for the role Keir has played in leading Labour back into Government, but he has taken the right decision today.

“I remain fiercely proud to be a Labour MP, and completely committed to delivering on the promises of our manifesto: to make people’s lives better, fairer and more secure, here in Plymouth.”

In a statement Cllr Tudor Evans, Labour leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “I would like to thank Sir Keir Starmer for his support for Plymouth and all he did to ensure we secured a Labour government in the general election in 2024. 

“We have seen a huge investment in Plymouth under his leadership which will benefit our city for years to come.

“I wish him and his family nothing but the best for the future. He saved the Labour party for which I will be forever grateful.”

Plymouth has secured more than £150 million in various grants from the government since 2024 with city regeneration, health and defence the main benefactors. The Devonport dockyard has also been promised at least £4.4 billion in work over the coming decade.