Outgoing United Kingdom Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has delivered his final statement at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, thanking members of his team and the civil service before declaring that his political journey had come to an end.
“This is the end of my political journey,” Starmer said, leaving the chamber to sustained applause from lawmakers on both sides of the House.
Starmer faced Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch at the despatch box for the final time after serving just over two years as prime minister following Labour’s landslide victory at the July 2024 general election.
He was forced to resign on 22 June following a significant Labour revolt triggered by a sharp fall in the party’s popularity in opinion polls. He has remained in office while a successor was found.
Andy Burnham, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester, will be declared Labour leader on Friday after winning the Makerfield by-election and is due to take office as prime minister on 20 July.
Starmer announced his resignation outside Downing Street on 22 June, his voice breaking as he said: “When I leave the biggest job in the country, I shall spend more time on the most important job: being the best husband I can to my fantastic wife, Vic, who has been a rock by my side through good times and bad.”
In his final days in office, Starmer attended meetings of the coalition of the willing in support of Ukraine and joined French President Emmanuel Macron at Bastille Day celebrations in Paris on Tuesday, in a sign of the closer relationship he sought to build with European neighbours throughout his tenure.
Wednesday’s session marks the final Prime Minister’s Questions of the current parliamentary term.
Members of Parliament will break for summer recess before the autumn term resumes in September.
(The Whistler)