Keir Starmer given standing ovation in ultimate PMQs look as chief

In an emotional session that saw many MPs in tears, as well as advisers in the public gallery, Mr Starmer bowed out with warm applause from both Labour MPs and some Liberal Democrats

Keir Starmer departed his final PMQs with a standing ovation as he reached the “end of [his] political journey“.

MPs from all parties paid tribute to the outgoing-PM, who pledged to give his “wholehearted support” to Andy Burnham “privately if asked for, not publicly when not asked for”.

In an emotional session that saw many MPs in tears, as well as advisers in the public gallery, Mr Starmer bowed out with warm applause from the majority of the Commons, although the Tories remained seated and did not applaud.

Before his last ever PMQs, Mr Starmer had gathered his top ministers for his final Cabinet meeting, where his colleagues gave him farewell gifts and a standing ovation at the end.

They gave him a carriage clock and two bottles of wine, one of which was an English sparkling wine that was served at the French state visit last summer and a bottle of pinot grigio.

Closing out the session, Mr Starmer told MPs: “Mr Speaker, this will be my last answer from this despatch box.

“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 am proud of everything that we have achieved.

“Mr Speaker, can I just take time to say to you, Mr. Speaker, and all those who work for the House and our constituency offices.

“Thank you for all your hard work. To our civil service, thank you also for all your hard work. To my political team, many of them here today, who came on this journey with me. Thank you so much for everything you have done and being prepared to walk through fire for me.

“Thanks to my colleagues on these benches, I am proud of all we have achieved together and proud of each and every one of you. To my successor and each of you, I will give my full support to all colleagues across the House, can I wish you good health and happiness.

“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.”

He also thanked Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch for her “kindness” after the death of his brother and the arson attack on his family home.

Mrs Badenoch paid tribute to the PM’s family, saying: “As everyone here knows, our families make a huge sacrifice for our choice to enter public life, so I hope he will allow me to draw our time together to a close by thanking them for the love and support they have given him throughout his time in office.”

Mr Starmer replied: “We have had robust exchanges across this despatch box, but she has extended kindness to me privately at very difficult times, including when there was an attempt to burn down our family home, which deeply affected my family, she reached out to me.

“And when my brother died of cancer, she reached out to me privately, not across this despatch box, and I thank her for that and the tribute that she’s just made to my wife and children, who mean the world to me.”

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle paid tribute to the PM, thanking him “for his public service, his international leadership, particularly in his steadfast support for Ukraine”.

At Mr Starmer’s final cabinet, David Lammy told him he will go down as “giant of the Labour moment” as he delivered a heartfelt tribute to his friend and colleague in Downing Street.

The Deputy PM paid tribute to the PM’s work and legacy, saying: “More than any politician I’ve worked with, you’ve always put the national interest above other interests.

“When faced with a difficult issue, you prioritise the people of this country. Not many politicians at this level can say that.

“Second, your incredible energy and work ethic. I’ve never known a politician put in the hours that you do. Again and again, day after day, always trying to do more for the people that we serve. And third, your sheer resilience.

“All of us around this table have thick skins. We’ve got to do this job, but the nature of politics now is that leaders are not treated kindly in the moment.

“But what you’ve done in government for our party means that the history books will write you up as a giant of the Labor movement, and for that we thank you very much.”