British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announces resignation

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced he will step down as leader of the Labour Party. He will, however, remain as caretaker Prime Minister until a new candidate is elected.

Following pressure within the party for a change in leadership, Starmer has begun the process of mapping out a timeline to hand over power.

His departure comes after the former Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, who has been confirmed to replace Starmer, won a local election to gain a seat in the House of Commons.

"Every decision I have taken has been about putting the country I love first," Starmer said in a speech outside 10 Downing Street. "That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party."

The new Prime Minister will be the seventh leader of the country in the last 10 years, following David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Starmer.

Under Labour's rules, the leader of the party must be a member of parliament, and Burnham was sworn in on Monday after winning a by-election in Makerfield.

Speaking in Brussels, Taoiseach Micheál Martin congratulated Burnham on the by-election result.

"I know Andy, I've met him on several occasions," he said.

"He has taken a particular interest in Ireland, and he's come to see us on a number of occasions, particularly on the economy, and in respect of his role as a mayor in Manchester, he was particularly focused on Irish economic policy and development."

Burnham has said he was first inspired to enter politics after watching Boys From The Blackstuff, a 1982 TV show about five unemployed men navigating Margaret Thatcher's Britain.

A lifelong fan of The Smiths, growing up in the North West, the band heavily soundtracked his youth, and he has often cited them as a major influence on his musical taste and his early Manchester-focused identity.

He has notably launched political campaigns at locations linked to the band, such as the Salford Lads Club - famous for appearing on The Queen Is Dead album sleeve.

The Makerfield MP's great-grandfather, Edmund "Ned" Burke, came from Drogheda and emigrated with his family to Liverpool in the late 1800s

The Mayor of Drogheda, Declan Power, welcomed Burnham's connections to the town.

"I've been watching the rise of Andy Burnham, and his election result was phenomenal," said Power.

"There is a high expectation that he will be the next leader of the Labour Party and the next Prime Minister of the UK."

"I believe Drogheda is always proud to learn of international figures with family roots in our town, and the connection through Mr Burnham's great-grandfather, Edmund "Ned" Burke, is a notable part of the story."

Starmer became Prime Minister at a challenging time after more than a decade of Conservative rule.

A further blow to his political career was choosing Peter Mandelson for the post of US ambassador, allegedly knowing that Mandelson had a friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Prime Minister said he had not known the depth of their relationship and apologised to Epstein's victims.