Sir Keir Starmer told MPs his final Prime Minister’s Questions marked “the end of my political journey” as he prepares to step down as prime minister. In a 50-minute session in the House of Commons, normal political hostilities were largely set aside. MPs across the chamber paid tribute to the departing prime minister, traded light jokes and shared personal anecdotes before his exit. Tributes and a standing ovationSeveral of Sir Keir’s close allies appeared emotional as he thanked staff for their support. He said his team had been “prepared to walk through fire” for him, and acknowledged their work over his time in office. As he left the chamber, his own MPs gave him a standing ovation. Many on the opposition benches also rose, while his family watched from the gallery. Chancellor Rachel Reeves, seated beside him on the front bench, appeared close to tears. Labour MP Carolyn Harris also struggled to hold back emotion as she told the House that she saw his “decency and his courage” reflected in daily work. Sir Keir was due to hand over power to Andy Burnham on Monday. Burnham, the former Greater Manchester mayor, is set to be confirmed as Labour leader at a special party conference on Friday. Badenoch praises, then warnsConservative leader Kemi Badenoch did not attack Sir Keir’s record directly during her questions. Instead, she praised his work on Ukraine and his friendship with Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of the country. However, she made clear Labour MPs and their next leader would face difficult times. Badenoch said the change of prime minister was not a “silver bullet” and warned that “their troubles are only just beginning”. She also asked whether Burnham should take questions in the Commons rather than “scurrying away for the summer”. With the Commons due to rise for its recess on Thursday, Burnham was not likely to take questions in Parliament until September. Badenoch framed her exchanges around the idea of continuity and timing, while Sir Keir did not directly respond when she asked if he had advice for his successor. He promised “wholehearted support”, adding that he would offer it privately if asked, rather than publicly when not asked for. Sir Keir also thanked Badenoch for kindness following the death of his brother and after an arson attack on his family home. World Cup and Clacton banterThe session, held around eight hours before England’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina, included multiple references to the match. Jokes about football hopes were interspersed with comments on politics closer to home, including the Clacton by-election. Conservative MP Graham Stuart joked that the prime minister had been given the “red card” by “400 dodgy referees”. Liberal Democrat MP Will Forster asked whether Sir Keir’s last act would be to declare a bank holiday if England won the World Cup. Sir Keir replied that he did not want to “tempt fate” and suggested Forster ask him again on Sunday. There were also references to the Clacton contest, triggered by the resignation of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. The main parties are not taking part, accusing Farage, who is re-fighting the constituency, of pulling a stunt as he stands again in Essex. The boycott means opponents are largely either independent or novelty candidates. Sir Keir told people in Clacton to “put your vote in the bin”. Sir Ed Davey said he could not “back joke figures with ridiculous policies”, and said that was why he was supporting Count Binface. Reform UK MP Danny Kruger replied that a “comedian with a dustbin on his head” was a suitable substitute for the major parties. Looking back and a leaving giftSir Keir was met with cheers as he arrived, despite having been forced out by his own MPs two years after delivering a landslide election victory. In comments to guests of the prime minister in the gallery, he said those whose lives had been “changed or improved by this Labour government”, and people who “struggle to be seen or heard” across the country, were “the reason” he came into politics. Before leaving office, the cabinet also marked the moment. Deputy prime minister David Lammy organised a whip-round to buy Sir Keir a vintage silver carriage clock as a leaving gift. The clock, made in the 1920s by the firm responsible for building Big Ben, was presented at Sir Keir’s final cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning, with a plaque reading: “Change promised, change fought for, change delivered. Thank you Keir – The Cabinet,” Downing Street said. Join the discussion? 16 July 2026
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