‘A man of great integrity and decency’: Labour MP for Spen Valley Kim Leadbeater reacts to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s resignation

Sir Keir announced his departure from the top role by speaking to the world’s media in Downing Street on Monday morning.

Posting to her Facebook page yesterday evening, Kim wrote: “The Keir Starmer I know is a man of great integrity and decency who will always do what he believes to be right in the best interests of the country. That is the man we saw outside Downing Street this morning.

“The Labour Party owes him a huge debt of gratitude for his leadership over the past six years, bringing us back from our worst election defeat in over 80 years to a landslide majority.

“We must never forget that politicians, even at the highest level, are human beings and I feel profound sadness for him, his lovely wife Vic, and his family on such a difficult day for them personally. They have so much to feel proud of, not least the dignified way in which he has set out the process for someone else to take forward all the hard work he has done since becoming Prime Minister two years ago.

“We owe it to him, and to the country, to show the same dignity and respect to one another as we determine who that person should be.

“We have achieved a huge amount in very difficult circumstances under Keir’s leadership, and together, not in our own interests but in those of the people who entrusted us with the privilege of being in government, we can and will do so much more.”

A new Prime Minister should be in place when Parliament returns after its summer recess in September.