India, July 4 -- Former British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in his first interview since resigning that he holds no personal animosity toward his political rival Andy Burnham, calling the decision to step down the toughest of his career. Starmer's exit followed months of Labour infighting, high-profile Cabinet resignations and a scandal tied to Peter Mandelson's ties to Jeffrey Epstein, clearing the way for Burnham to become the frontrunner to replace him.

Starmer insisted that he holds no personal grudge against Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor widely expected to succeed him as Labour leader. The outgoing UK PM described his ouster as the toughest battle of his political life in his first broadcast interview since stepping dow...