Outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed the House of Commons on Wednesday, July 15th, 2026, in his final session of Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs). Starmer pledged his “wholehearted support” to his successor, Andy Burnham, who is set to formally replace him on Monday, July 20th, becoming the UK’s seventh prime minister in a decade.

Starmer expressed his desire for the Labour government and the country to succeed, stating, “I want this Labour government to be a success. I want our country to be a success.” He also acknowledged ongoing challenges, with a Labour Party representative noting that the party’s troubles may only be beginning and that solving the country’s fundamental problems will require difficult decisions.

Starmer announced his resignation last month after months of pressure stemming from a series of scandals, missteps, and policy U-turns. During his farewell, most MPs applauded him, with many giving a standing ovation as he wished them an emphatic “goodbye” from the parliament floor. He humorously noted he had a date with his television at 8pm (19:00 GMT) to watch the World Cup semifinal.

Andy Burnham’s upcoming premiership marks a continuation of Labour leadership amid ongoing political and social challenges in the UK.

Sources