Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has wasted no time in severely criticising Keir Starmer following his resignation as Prime Minister on Monday, branding him a failure who leaves behind a weakened Britain.
Starmer announced his resignation as both Prime Minister and Labour leader on 22 June 2026, saying he would remain in a caretaker role until the party chose a successor.
Badenoch, posting on social media, offered no sympathy. She catalogued what she described as Labour’s damaging choices, national insurance hikes, the Family Farm Tax, stalled welfare reform, underfunded defence, and a refusal to develop Britain’s domestic energy resources.
She also renewed her attack over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, accusing the government of dishonesty over the circumstances surrounding his eventual dismissal.
Crucially, Badenoch argued the rot runs deeper than one leader. In her view, Labour MPs are ideologically wedded to higher taxes and expanded benefits regardless of who sits in Downing Street.
Andy Burnham, widely regarded as the frontrunner to succeed Starmer, confirmed he would enter the race, setting up what Badenoch clearly hopes will be a fresh opportunity to draw stark contrasts between the two parties ahead of the next general election.
Read Badenoch’s post:
We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →
Join Our WhatsApp Channel
