Outgoing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday, July 15, pledged his wholehearted support to his successor Andy Burnham during his final appearance at Prime Minister's Questions. Facing his last weekly grilling from MPs, Starmer said he wanted the next Labour leader to succeed.
Starmer's Farewell Address
“I will give my wholehearted support to my successor. I want this Labour government to be a success,” Starmer said when asked what advice he had for Burnham. “I want our country to be a success. I shall give my support privately if asked for, not publicly when not asked for.”
Starmer announced his resignation last month after months of pressure following a series of scandals, missteps, and policy U-turns that marred his two-year tenure. He led Labour to victory in the 2024 elections after 14 years in opposition.
Burnham Set to Become Prime Minister
Burnham is expected to be crowned Labour leader on Friday after securing overwhelming support from the party’s 403 MPs and major trade unions. Labour's comfortable majority in the 650-seat House of Commons means he will automatically become the next prime minister.
Burnham will replace Starmer on Monday, shortly after meeting King Charles III to be asked to form the next government. He will become Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade.
Light-Hearted Moments and Warnings
A relaxed Starmer joked with political foes as MPs from all parties wished him well. Even Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch softened her tone but warned: “Changing prime minister is not a silver bullet. Indeed, it may be that the Labour Party’s troubles are only just beginning. Solving the fundamental problems in this country will require difficult decisions.”
MPs broke into loud applause as Starmer, a fervent football fan, said he had a date with his television at 8:00pm for the World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina. “This is the end of my political journey,” he said, though he plans to stay on as an MP. “In two years in government, I leave the country in better shape than I found it. I am proud of everything that we have achieved.”
