Emotional scenes as Keir Starmer bids farewell in remaining deal with to the nation – speech in full
Keir Starmer was surrounded by loved ones, friends and family – and David Lammy – as he gave a short speech before heading off the Buckingham Palace to resign as Prime Minister
Keir Starmer was applauded out of Downing Street as the handover of power to Andy Burnham began. Starmer stood in front of Number 10 surrounded by a large crowd of staff, family and friends before making a short but poignant speech.
He began by speaking of his “work” being “done” and how he’d taken the party from a historic defeat to winning a landslide victory”.
With an emotional Rachel Reeves behind him, as well as David Lammy also standing there, he spoke for just over three minutes before getting into a car and heading to Buckingham Palace to offer his official resignation to King Charles.
His speech in full:
Today I am here to offer my resignation and close the book on my time as Prime Minister. My work is done.
In six and a half years, I took our party from a historic defeat in 2019, changed it so it was fit to face the country and won a landslide general election victory in 2024.
Since then, it has been the privilege of my life to serve you and this great country as Prime Minister. And I am confident that Britain is now stronger and fairer than it was two years ago. Our economy is stronger. Our public services are on the up with the biggest fall in waiting times for 17 years.
He was surrounded by a large crowd
Children are being lifted out of poverty every single day. Immigration is down significantly. Our defence and security are on a far stronger footing. And our international reputation is greatly enhanced.
Yet the thing I will always take away with me, the most humbling aspect of this job, is the front row seat you get to witness the greatest things of this country in action. To see every day immeasurable acts of resolve, grit, decency, and compassion from people who serve our country, whether that’s in their regimental colours, NHS scrubs, or simply the millions of people in their communities who volunteer their time and their effort to the ground beneath their feet.
He spoke of his pride in the job he’d done
We face a world now where our enemies will stop at nothing to divide us because of our values, our freedom, our decency, and thankfully, because of our unflinching resolve towards the brave people of Ukraine.
And so under this attack, it is vital that we remember the greatness of the Britain all around us, that while we debate how to fix our problems, there is something we inherit from our country and our character that can give us confidence that we can change our country for the better, that we can create a Britain where every child can go as far as their talent will take them, and we can unite different people under our common flag if we don’t succumb to that division. So, as I now pass the baton to Andy Burnham, I wish him every success. He has my full support.
He met King Charles after making his speech
And finally, I want to thank once again my family, Vic and our children, my team, all the staff here and across the Labour Party, everyone at Number 10 and across the Civil Service, and everyone who has supported our efforts along the way.
For all the focus on individuals, politics will always be a team sport, and the changes we’ve delivered for our country and our party belong to everyone who has fought for them. I thank them again today, and I thank the British people for the opportunity to serve. I go with good grace, I go with a smile, and I go proud of everything that we have achieved. Thank you very much.
