Tributes and tears as Starmer takes final Prime Minister's Questions
Sir Keir Starmer held his final Prime Minister's Questions, receiving tributes from across the political spectrum before his scheduled departure. He will be succeeded by Andy Burnham, with the transition expected to be finalized later this week.
Why it matters
This marks a significant leadership transition in the UK government, reflecting a rare moment of cross-party consensus and civility.
Image source, HoC By Kate Whannel , Political reporter and Brian Wheeler , Political reporter Published 34 minutes ago Sir Keir Starmer told MPs it was the "end of my political journey" and he was "proud of everything I have achieved" at his final Prime Minister's Questions before standing down.
Normal political hostilities were largely set aside during the 50 minute session, as MPs on all sides paid tribute to the departing PM, traded jokes and shared anecdotes.
There were tears from some of Sir Keir's closest allies, with the outgoing PM 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.
Figure caption, Watch: Starmer's final PMQs ends with standing ovation
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in