Keir Starmer told British legislators that it was the ‘end of my political journey’ and he was ‘proud of everything I have achieved’ at his final Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) in parliament, before standing down.
Normal political hostilities were largely set aside yesterday during the 50 minute session, as legislators on all sides paid tribute to the departing British prime minister, traded jokes and shared anecdotes.
There were tears from some of Starmer’s closest allies, with the outgoing leader thanking his staff who he said had been ‘prepared to walk through fire for me’.
As he left the chamber, he was given a standing ovation by his own MPs, as well as many on the opposition benches, while his family watched on from the gallery, reported BBC.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves – who was at Starmer’s side on the front bench as usual – appeared close to tears.
Labour MP Carolyn Harris was also overcome by emotion as she told MPs that ‘every day we see his decency and his courage shine through’.
Starmer is due to hand over power to Andy Burnham on Monday, after the former Greater Manchester mayor is confirmed as Labour leader at a special Labour conference tomorrow.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch refrained from attacking the outgoing prime minister’s record, instead praising him for his work on Ukraine and his friendship with the country’s president Volodymyr Zelensky.
But she did aim some jibes at Labour MPs and their next leader, who was absent from the session as he has been at all the PMQs sessions since he returned to Parliament last month.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said Starmer had worked with people across the House of Commons and described him as a ‘true patriot’.
Watching on were several guests of the prime minister, including campaigners he had met during his time in Downing Street.
He addressed some of them directly as he spoke, saying: “To all those in the gallery whose lives have been changed or improved by this Labour government, and all across the country who struggle to be seen or heard, you’re the reason I came into politics.”
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