Sir Keir Starmer has formally stepped down as Prime Minister after two years in office, telling the country he goes “with good grace” as he handed over to Andy Burnham in the first transfer of power between two Labour leaders since 2007.
Sir Keir Starmer bowed out as Prime Minister today, delivering a brief farewell speech outside 10 Downing Street before travelling to Buckingham Palace to formally resign to King Charles III. Flanked by his wife Victoria and closest political aides, the outgoing premier said his “work is done” after two years leading the country, describing the role as “the privilege of my life.” He wished his successor, Andy Burnham, his “full support” as the pair completed Britain’s seventh change of Prime Minister in a decade.
A short goodbye on the steps of Downing Street
Sir Keir’s address lasted less than five minutes. He told the gathered crowd: “I go with a smile and I go proud of everything that we have achieved,” praising what he called the “resolve, grit, decency and compassion” of the British people, singling out the Armed Forces, NHS staff and volunteers for particular mention.
Reflecting on his six and a half years leading the Labour Party, he said: “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.”
He pointed to what he described as achievements of his government, including the biggest fall in NHS waiting times in 17 years, children being lifted out of poverty, a significant fall in immigration, and what he called stronger footing on defence, security and Britain’s international reputation.
Warning over threats to UK unity
Sir Keir used part of his speech to warn that the UK’s enemies “will stop at nothing to divide us” over its values and its support for Ukraine against Russia. “We face a world now where our enemies will stop at nothing to divide us because of our values, our freedom, our decency, and frankly, because of our unflinching resolve towards the brave people of Ukraine,” he said. He added that Britain should draw confidence from its national character even as it debates how to address its problems, saying the country could still “unite different people under our common flag if we don’t succumb to that division.”
Thanks to his team and passing the baton
Sir Keir described politics as “always a team sport,” saying the changes delivered during his premiership belonged to “everyone who has fought for them” rather than to any one individual. He thanked his family, his team, Downing Street staff, the civil service and the wider Labour Party for their support, before formally handing over to his successor. “So, as I now pass the baton to Andy Burnham, I wish him every success. He has my full support,” he said.
Several senior Labour figures were present to watch the speech, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who is expected to leave the Treasury, along with Housing Secretary Steve Reed, Justice Secretary David Lammy and London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan.
Departure and formal resignation
Following his speech, Sir Keir left Downing Street with Victoria and their two children, waving to staff and supporters before departing for Buckingham Palace. There, he formally tendered his resignation to King Charles III, who then invited Andy Burnham to form a new government.
The handover marked the first transfer of power between two Labour Prime Ministers since Gordon Brown succeeded Tony Blair in 2007. The transition took place without a general election, after Burnham secured the Labour leadership following Sir Keir’s resignation, making him the seventh UK Prime Minister in the past decade.
