Starmer delivers emotional farewell at final PMQs as Burnham set to take over as Labour leader

At his final PMQs, Starmer soaked up the love from all sides – and even some tenderness from Kemi - The Guardian

At his final PMQs, Starmer soaked up the love from all sides – and even some tenderness from Kemi  The GuardianStarmer says it's the 'end of my political journey' at his final Prime Minister's Questions  BBCDUP sets up review on what party knew about sex offender Jeffrey Donaldson – as it happened  The GuardianA dignified end to a failed premiership  The TelegraphPMQs review: A farewell to Starms  New Statesman

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The Guardian view on Keir Starmer’s farewell: a dignified departure and a necessary one | Editorial

The outgoing prime minister was on good form during his sometimes emotional last PMQs. But Labour MPs were right that change was neededMercifully for a prime minister whose defenestration was swift and brutal after Labour’s catastrophic local election results in May, Sir Keir Starmer’s valedictory week has offered several opportunities to point to what he got right. Sir Keir’s steadfast record in corralling international support for Ukraine – and ensuring Britain stayed out of Donald Trump’s illegal war on Iran – will be looked on favourably by history. A minute’s applause in Paris on Monday, from leaders of the “coalition of the willing” countries, was well deserved.On Tuesday in the House of Commons, Andy Burnham paid tribute to the outgoing prime minister for his role in drafting the bill that finally became the Hillsborough law this week. On Wednesday, serendipitously, the England team’s World Cup exploits allowed Sir Keir to indulge his passion for football during his final prime minister’s questions.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...

2 hours ago

Tears For Keir? Emotions Run High As Starmer Bows Out With Final PMQs

Keir Starmer saying goodbye in the Commons, with David Lammy on his left and Rachel Reeves on his rightKeir Starmer’s final appearance in the House of Commons as prime minister left multiple supporters looking rather emotional.The PM stood in the Chamber for his last prime minister’s questions on Wednesday afternoon and exchanged friendly barbs with the leader of the opposition, Kemi Badenoch.Right behind him, his ally and chancellor Rachel Reeves – who is widely expected to lose her job under Starmer’s successor Andy Burnham – looked downtrodden and on the cusp of tears.And the final question of the session went to a close friend of the prime minister’s, Labour MP Carolyn Harris, who struggled to hold back her emotions while singing Starmer’s praises.She said few had believed he could make the necessary changes to Labour when Starmer became party leader in 2020.“But today, because of his service and his leadership, children are growing up in a fairer Britain. We stand tall on the world stage. And every day we’ve seen his decency and his courage shine through,” she said, as her voice broke.'This is the end of my political journey'Sir Keir Starmer finishes his last PMQs by responding to an emotional question from Carolyn Harris, one of his strongest backers and friends.He is then clapped out of the Commons by Labour MPs.Read more: https://t.co/rT6wFPbdxSpic.twitter.com/p26Vom7XAu— Sky News (@SkyNews) July 15, 2026The prime minister, on the other hand, seemed completely composed as he thanked Harris for her friendship.He closed out his last session from the despatch box as PM by saying: “Every prime minister knows when they take up the torch that the day will come when they have to pass it on. That day has come for me.“This is the end of my political journey.“In six years, we went from historic defeat in 2019 to historic victory in 2024, and in two years in government I leave the country in better shape than I found it.I’m proud of everything that we have achieved.”He added: “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.“To my wife and children, I love you. Goodbye!”All of the Labour MPs and Lib Dem MPs gave Starmer a standing ovation as he exited the chamber.According to Patrick Maguire from The Times, some ministers “wept” when deputy PM David Lammy paid tribute to the outgoing leader during his final cabinet meeting on Wednesday, too.Starmer’s exit comes two months after Labour’s catastrophic performance in the May elections in England, Scotland and Wales.As Labour MPs called for the PM to resign, a path was cleared for Burnham, then Greater Manchester mayor, to return to the Commons and replace Starmer.He won the Makerfield by-election comfortably last month, prompting Starmer’s resignation.Burnham will be crowned as Labour leader on Friday and is set to receive the keys to Downing Street on Monday while Starmer returns to the backbenches. Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.Related...Trump Has Come Up With A Bizarre Reason For Keir Starmer Quitting As PM

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Keir Starmer signs off with family tribute and 6-7 dance at emotional final PMQs

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page The sight of a prominent Labour MP in tears during Prime Minister’s Questions was once enough to shake the economy. If that was the case today, we’d be in an even worse state than the one that caused Liz Truss to resign in the middle of her term – the last PM to do so. Labour’s Johanna Baxter and Carolyn Harris both sounded emotional as they paid tribute to Sir Keir Starmer during his final round of weekly questions in the House of Commons this afternoon. And when I looked around as the PM paid tribute to his family in his last answer – slightly rushed, as he seemed in danger of breaking into tears himself – I saw Labour staff members and campaigners in the gallery wiping their eyes. It was, frankly, quite touching. There was none of the braggadocio seen in Boris Johnson’s final PMQs, where he signed off at the despatch box by growling: ‘Hasta la vista, baby!’ Make sense of the mad world of British politics Get analysis of the latest stories – including Nigel Farage’s resignation – direct to your inbox from Metro’s Senior Politics Reporter Craig Munro. Sign up here. Instead, party leaders and backbenchers from across the house toned down the often vicious atmosphere of this session to wish well to a man who has spent two years in one of the country’s toughest jobs. There were lighthearted gags about the football and Nigel Farage’s upcoming ‘Binface by-election’. Starmer did the 6-7 dance in response to a question about his viral moments. The House roared with laughter more than once – with the Tories’ Jesse Norman having a particularly great time. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page And there were also heartfelt words for Ann Widdecombe in the wake of her horrific murder last week from Starmer, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey, with Davey and the PM calling for a permanent memorial to her in Parliament. (Neither of the two Reform MPs called to speak, Richard Tice and Danny Kruger, took the opportunity to pay their own respects.) I can already see the social media comments, condemning these detached politicians for chortling away while the country continues to face crises on multiple fronts. But PMQs is often brutal. If there’s any time to take a lighter approach, surely the final week before the leader departs and the government changes is it? Starmer receives a standing ovation from Labour MPs as he exits the chamber (Picture: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire) There seemed to be a consensus among everyone who spoke that Starmer may have made mistakes – many major mistakes – but he always tried to make the choices he believed was right for his country. After Starmer’s bruising few weeks, or perhaps bruising couple of years, today was an opportunity to demonstrate that politics isn’t all about inflicting the most damage. Because here’s a secret: a lot of these people quite like each other on a personal level. The PM spoke of his appreciation for Badenoch’s phone calls after the arson attack on his home and the death of his brother. I’ve even heard Nigel Farage describe Keir Starmer as a ‘decent man’ when the cameras weren’t on – really! To get anything done, these 650 individuals who sit in the House of Commons often need to find common ground and work together. And they do, to an extent the public might not fully appreciate. Many of them, maybe even most of them, are genuinely in this business to make the country a better place. Those close to Starmer would say he falls firmly in this camp. His efforts, though, resulted in his approval ratings collapsing and his party resorting to a coup. Maybe we should have always known it would end in tears. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

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