Starmer to step down as British PM

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that he will step down after facing pressure from within the Labour Party. He said he would remain as caretaker prime minister until a new Labour leader is chosen. Starmer made the announcement outside 10 Downing Street after weeks of concern about his leadership. His decision comes less than two years after Labour won a large election victory in July 2024.

Starmer’s popularity and Labour’s support have fallen since he became prime minister. Many Labour lawmakers have been worried about the government’s struggles with the economy, public services and the cost of living. His departure was also linked to the political return of Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester. Burnham won a special election and was expected to challenge Starmer for the Labour leadership.

Starmer is the latest in a series of British prime ministers to leave office earlier than planned. His resignation comes just before the 10th anniversary of Britain’s vote to leave the European Union. While he faced problems at home, Starmer was praised by some people for his work with other countries, including support for Ukraine. Labour will now choose a new leader to try to rebuild support for the government.

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SMART Prep | Quick Question 210659

The Year 8 class at a Christchurch intermediate is running a recycling drive for two weeks. Students have been asked to collect clean cans, cardboard, and plastic bottles from home. The teacher explained that the drive will help reduce waste sent to landfill. One student said the campaign is “too much effort” because sorting rubbish takes time. The class aims to fill at least eight collection bins before the final Friday. A notice on the classroom wall reminds students that food scraps cannot be included.

Which statement is a fact from the passage?

  

Did You Know?

What big decision did British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announce?
Keir Starmer announced he will step down as Prime Minister!

Vocabulary

Click on the words in the article. See if you can find them all.
  • caretaker A person who temporarily takes care of something. The caretaker looked after the school while it was closed.
  • leadership The action of leading a group or organization. Good leadership helps teams work better together.
  • support To help or back someone or something. Friends support each other during tough times.
  • Thinking Question

    How do you think a new leader can help the country?

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