LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer fielded questions, criticism and even a bit of praise from lawmakers in the House of Commons for the last time Wednesday before he leaves office next week.
Starmer bid farewell to the boisterous weekly Prime Minister's Questions sessions where he has traded barbs with opposition politicians and defended his government's record. On Monday, he will step down after just two years in office, handing over power to a new Labour Party leader, Andy Burnham.
Britain’s parliamentary democracy allows governing parties to change leaders, and thus prime ministers, without the need for a general election. The next national election does not have to be held until 2029.
In a session that mixed somber seriousness and political criticism with personal tributes and jokes, Starmer opened by saying he was "horrified" at the killing last week of the former lawmaker Ann Widdecombe. Counterterror police are investigating it as murder.
Starmer called it “ chilling” that three serving or former members have been killed during his 11 years in Parliament, and urged politicians to “do more to defend our democracy."
Instead of mentioning upcoming meetings with ministers, as he has every other week, Starmer said he had "an important appointment with the television" later when England faces Argentina in the World Cup semifinal.
Opposition Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch — the fourth leader of her party since 2022 — cautioned Starmer's Labour Party that changing leaders is no “silver bullet,” and recalled how Starmer had predicted she wouldn't last a year in charge.
“Life comes at you fast,” said Badenoch.
Britain’s parliamentary democracy allows governing parties to change leaders, and thus prime ministers, without the need for a general election. The next national election does not have to be held until 2029.
Starmer was elected in a landslide in July 2024, but is quitting after two years in office marred by missteps and judgment errors that eroded his standing with his party and the public.
He struggled to deliver promised economic growth, repair tattered public services and ease the cost of living. And he was hamstrung by repeated missteps, including his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson, a scandal-tarnished friend of Jeffrey Epstein, as U.K. ambassador to the United States.
After Labour was hammered in May's local elections, he gave in to mounting pressure from the party and announced he would step down. Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, is the only candidate in the contest to replace him and will be announced as the new Labour leader on Friday.
On Monday, Starmer will go to Buckingham Palace and announce his resignation as prime minister to King Charles III, who will then ask Burnham to take over.
At Prime Minister's Questions, Starmer said he was proud of his government's domestic policy achievements, including stronger protections for working people, a law designed to stop official cover-ups after tragedies, and higher defense spending.
“I am proud to leave this country in better shape than I found it,” he said.
Badenoch praised Starmer for supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia's full-scale invasion, including by inviting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to London immediately after the Ukrainian leader was insulted by President Donald Trump in the White House last year.
On Tuesday, Starmer attended Bastille Day celebrations in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron, who awarded him the Legion of Honor in recognition of his work with France on European security.
Back in London, Starmer held a reception in the garden of the prime minister’s 10 Downing St. residence to thank people who had campaigned for accountability from the authorities after losing loved ones to violence.@
“I leave on Monday with good grace,” he told them. “I’m very pleased I’ve had the privilege of being prime minister. I’m pleased to have delivered on the promises that are made to many people in this garden. And I’ll make this last promise, which is I will stand with you and walk with you, as long as I’ve got breath in my body.”
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