Keir Starmer has announced he will stand down as prime minister after days of intense pressure from Labour MPs, including cabinet ministers, following the return of Andy Burnham to Westminster.

Less than two years after a historic election victory, Starmer had faced calls from his MPs to set out a timeline for his departure, with many of them unnerved by the threat from Nigel Farage’s party before the next general election.

Starmer’s decision to announce his departure will now start a race among Labour MPs to become the UK’s seventh prime minister in 10 years, with Burnham in pole position to win. If he is uncontested, he could be in Downing Street within weeks.