Starmergeddon: British PM resigns
The Intelligence from The Economist
The Economist
4.5 • 3.7K Ratings
🗓️ 22 June 2026
⏱️ 21 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
After winning a resounding victory for Britain’s Labour party two years ago, Sir Keir Starmer has announced his departure. As the country gets ready for its 7th prime minister in ten years, our correspondent asks if it has become ungovernable. A Trump-loving right winger wins Colombia’s presidency. And “Toy Story 5” sets the toys against technology.
Guests and host:
- Hugo Gye, Britain political editor
- Hal Hodson, Americas editor
- Alexandra Suich Bass, culture editor
- Rosie Blau, co-host of “The intelligence”
Topics covered:
- Keir Starmer, Andy Burnham, Britain, Labour
- Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, cocaine
- Toy Story 5, tech, screen time
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The Economist. |
| 0:09.5 | Hello and welcome to the intelligence from The Economist. |
| 0:13.3 | I'm Rosie Bloor. |
| 0:19.1 | Today on the show, Colombia's new right-wing president, and Toy Story 5 tackles tech. |
| 0:29.7 | But first... |
| 0:50.6 | ... But first... I have spoken to his majesty the king this morning to inform him of my decision. |
| 0:56.0 | This morning, Britain's Prime Minister, Sakeer Stama, said his time was up. I will resign as leader of the Labour Party. |
| 1:00.0 | Only two years after Labour won a resounding victory at the general election, |
| 1:05.0 | Stama has lost the support of the country and his party. |
| 1:09.0 | The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next |
| 1:17.5 | general election. |
| 1:19.7 | I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question. |
| 1:26.5 | And I accept that answer with good grace. |
| 1:31.2 | Even as he continued to trumpet labour's successes, Stama gave an emotional farewell. |
| 1:37.1 | I shall spend more time on the most important job. |
| 1:41.3 | Being the best husband I can to my fantastic wife, Fick, who has been a rock by my side |
| 1:47.9 | through good times and bad. |
| 1:51.0 | Meanwhile, Andy Burnham, who won a crucial by-election on Friday, and who is largely assumed |
| 1:56.1 | to be Stalmers' successor, is heading to Westminster to be sworn in as an MP. |
| 2:02.0 | Whether Britain now has a leadership contest or a coronation is not yet clear. |
| 2:08.0 | What is certain is that the country will soon have its seventh prime minister in 10 years. |
| 2:14.2 | When we spoke on Friday, Kirstama wasma was pledging to carry on as Prime Minister |
... |
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