Starmer “left in tears” as he steps down, says Georgian PM

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has commented on the resignation of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose government had imposed sanctions on Georgian television channels.

“The most popular television channel in Georgia was sanctioned by the least popular prime minister in the world, who yesterday resigned in tears,” Kobakhidze said, Caliber.Az reports, citing Georgian media.

“This is the karma that has caught up with Starmer. This is, of course, a disgrace for the United Kingdom, a disgrace personally for Starmer,” the Georgian PM added.

Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation as Labour leader on June 22, heralding the end of his time in 10 Downing Street.

He has said he will stay on as UK prime minister until his successor is in place.

Pressure on the Labour leader had been building for a while, amid dire poll ratings and a series of damaging revelations over his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as his US ambassador last year.

Elections to the Welsh and Scottish parliaments, as well as local councils in parts of England, in May had long been billed by gloomy Labour MPs as a last chance for him to prove he could turn things around.

In the end, the results were devastating, prompting Wes Streeting to resign as health secretary, as well as a clutch of more junior ministers.

An ally of Andy Burnham quit as MP for Makerfield, clearing a path for the then Greater Manchester mayor to fulfil his ambition of returning to Westminster to challenge for the Labour crown.

Sir Keir had previously been able to block Burnham from standing in a by-election in February. But with scores of MPs demanding his resignation in the wake of the election results, he did not have the authority to repeat the move.

By Vafa Guliyeva