What Armley locals think of Keir Starmer's resignation - from 'jubilant' to 'feeling sorry for him'

Residents on the streets of a Leeds have given their thoughts on the resignation of Sir Keir Starmer - and told us what they want to see next.

The Prime Minister announced on Monday that he would leave Number 10 Downing Street following disappointing local election results in May, and a number of unpopular policy choices in office.

It also came the week following the victory of Andy Burnham in the Makerfield by-election, who is set to challenge for the leadership of the party in an upcoming contest.

Locals in Armley shared their views with us as the heat bristled through the city, with many welcoming Sir Keir’s departure but others feeling uncertain about the country’s future.

Russell Burton, 59, said he was “jubilant” at the news but didn’t feel that the next prime minister would be much better, saying: “Out with one. In with another. I think it will be the same old thing with politics.

“For man on the street, it’s not for him. It’s all about elitism in politics now.

“I think we’re going to get the same ideological infighting. I’d like to see politicians come in and bring some normality. But I just don’t think that’s going to be the new guy.”

He added: “I think the country’s pretty much in a mess because of these people. And I don’t think going so far to the right is going to do anything, but I think we’re being pushed into those situations right now - left and right paradigms - because it’s much easier to manipulate the British public when they’re stuck between two bookends of ideology.”

Sarah Baird, 59, of Wortley, who works as a teacher, said that she felt politicians weren’t putting a lot of effort in and “taking the easy route out”, saying: “I was a Labour supporter but not so much now.

“I feel like it’s part of politics where they’re all just infighting and attacking each other rather than working together to do stuff for the people they’re meant to be working for.”

She added that the same thing may happen for the next leader.

“It’s really discouraging,” she told us. “And then you have these other parties who seem to be wanting to do a good thing, but they just attack them. I think they should stop attacking each other, listen to the people of the country and do something about what they need.

“Do something about the housing crisis, the cost of living, education and everything that needs looking at.

“I don’t envy them. It’s not a job I’d choose to do, but it’s what they’ve chosen to do. They’re there for the people and I just don’t think they’re listening to the people.”

Keith Walker, 85, of Wortley, said that he felt a “bit sorry” for Sir Keir Starmer, but said that, as a pensioner, he felt the cuts to the winter fuel allowance were “the worst thing they did”.

He said: “I think that’s what started it all going down.”

Mr Walker said that he could envisage the country going “more to the left” if Andy Burnham, and said that a lot of his appeal over Sir Keir was because he “looks right”.

He said: “That goes on people because people judge you on what you look like.”

Sean Dobson, 51, who was catching some of the sun in his front garden, said he wasn’t surprised as it was “always on the books”, adding: “I’m glad that he has gone.

“It will give someone else a chance to sort the situation.”

He pointed to the “rollbacks” of Keir Starmer being a factor in his major dip in popularity after winning the general election nearly two years ago. He said: “There was always a reason why he didn’t do what he was supposed to do.”

He said that he wanted to see improvements to immigration and the NHS from the next leader of the country, saying: “I’ve got cancer and every time I go I’m waiting three or four hours before I’m seen so waiting times need to come right down.”

He said that he felt that the country needed a “shake-up” and that he would vote for Reform UK.

Marius, 36, from Headingley, also said that he didn’t like Sir Keir “at all” and that in his 10 years since moving from Romania, he had “never seen Britain as divided as it is now”.