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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday formally announced his resignation as Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party, ending a turbulent tenure marked by mounting internal rebellion, ministerial resignations and growing doubts about his ability to lead Labour into the next general election.

Standing outside 10 Downing Street, an emotional Starmer acknowledged that he had lost the confidence of key figures within his party and accepted that Labour no longer viewed him as the best person to lead it into the next election.

“I accept with good grace that my party no longer believes I am the best person to lead them into the next general election,” Starmer said in his resignation address.
He pledged to remain in office until a successor is chosen, promising what he described as an “orderly transfer of power” to ensure political stability in the United Kingdom.

The resignation marks the culmination of weeks of escalating political turmoil within Labour. Senior ministers, parliamentary aides and dozens of MPs had publicly questioned Starmer’s leadership following devastating local election losses that saw the party lose significant ground across England, Scotland and Wales.
Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, whose resignation intensified the crisis, accused the Prime Minister of lacking direction at a critical moment for the country.

“Where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift,” Streeting wrote in a scathing resignation letter that became a rallying point for Labour critics.

Despite the pressure, Starmer used his farewell speech to defend his record in government, citing economic growth, rising wages, reduced National Health Service waiting lists, stronger workers’ rights, increased defence spending and efforts to tackle illegal migration.
Reflecting on his time in office, Starmer insisted that public service, not power, had always motivated him.

“I never came into politics for power itself,” he said, while highlighting what he described as Labour’s achievements in government.

The outgoing Prime Minister also paid an emotional tribute to his family, particularly his wife, who reportedly encouraged him to continue fighting for his leadership. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that the political reality within the party had become impossible to ignore.
Concluding his address, Starmer signalled that family life would now take precedence over political ambition.

“I will now focus on being the best husband and father I can be,” he said.
Trump’s remark sparks debate
TNG reports the resignation has also reignited debate over President Trump’s comments made a day earlier.

Speaking through social media, Trump asserted that Starmer’s departure was imminent, even as British ministers publicly insisted they had no indication that the Prime Minister was preparing to step down.

When Starmer’s resignation became official on Monday, critics and supporters alike questioned whether Trump had insider knowledge of Labour’s internal deliberations or had merely anticipated a political outcome that many observers already considered likely.

Burnham emerges as front-runner
Meanwhile, attention has now shifted to Labour’s looming leadership contest, with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham widely regarded as the leading candidate to replace Starmer. Party officials are expected to begin the formal succession process in the coming weeks.

Starmer’s departure makes him the latest British Prime Minister to leave office amid political upheaval, extending a period of remarkable instability in British politics that has seen multiple leadership changes in less than a decade.
For a leader who only months ago vowed that he would “prove the doubters wrong,” Monday’s resignation represented a dramatic reversal and a sobering end to a premiership ultimately undone by the loss of confidence within his own ranks.

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Two soldiers were reportedly k!lled and several others injured after an improvised explosive device (IED) allegedly exploded on a military vehicle conveying troops to Bargaja community in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The troops were said to be responding to a distress call following a bandit attack on the community in the early hours of Saturday, June 21, 2026.

Residents told Daily Trust that armed bandits invaded the village between 12:30am and 3:00am, shooting sporadically and forcing residents to seek military intervention.

A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity alleged that the attackers planted an IED along the Isa-Bargaja road before the arrival of the troops.

“They were on their way to rescue us when the vehicle hit the explosive. Many soldiers were affected. One of the soldiers involved in the incident later ran into our village seeking help after the explosion,” he said, adding that the soldier sustained serious injuries on his leg.

The resident said the incident occurred on a section of the road linking Isa and Bargaja and expressed concern over what he described as the increasing use of explosive devices by bandits.

“We have seen the bodies of two soldiers, but we cannot say whether there were more casualties,” he said, calling on the authorities to take urgent measures to address the security situation.

Another resident who claimed to have visited the military camp in Isa town to condole with the troops said they travelled from Bargaja to sympathise with the soldiers following the incident.

“We hired two vehicles from our community and went to Isa to condole with the military over the loss of their personnel,” he said.

The source claimed that three soldiers, including a driver, lost their lives in the attack, adding that one of the victims was severely affected by the explosion.

He said the remains of the deceased personnel were later evacuated to Sokoto.

Another source who is familiar with the developments in the area also alleged that the troops came under a coordinated ambush while responding to the distress call from residents.

According to the source, the attackers allowed an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) vehicle leading the convoy to pass before targeting a Hilux vehicle behind it with gunfire and an explosive device.

“The APC was at the front and was allowed to pass. The attackers then opened fire and detonated an explosive device targeting the Hilux behind it,” the source alleged.

He added that one of the security personnel reportedly fled into a nearby forest during the incident and that efforts were ongoing to locate and rescue him.

The source further said residents, security personnel and the attackers were engaged in exchanges throughout the night, creating tension across the area.

“We never slept yesterday because of the sound of gunfire. I can’t confirm the exact number of the casualties. Wait till after we gathered the accurate information about the incident,” the source said.

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President Tinubu will Commission Water Supply Network To Karu Satellite Town Today

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