Starmer says ‘I go with grace’ & vows ‘full support’ for Burnham as he leaves No10 with wife & kids after 2 years as PM

SIR Keir Starmer today “closed the book” on his time as Prime Minister as he gave Andy Burnham his “full support”. The outgoing premier made a short goodbye speech of less than five minutes flanked by his wife Victoria and his closest political aides stood behind him. Outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers his last speech in Downing Street before leaving office Credit: PA Sir Keir Starmer greets the King as he formally resigns as Prime Minister Credit: PA But after two tumultuous years in Downing Street he said “my work is done” and said it had been the “privilege of my life”. He will now formally resign to King Charles before Mr Burnham has his audience at Buckingham Palace shortly afterwards. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Thank you! Mr Burnham will then be Britain’s seventh PM in a decade and set about appointing his first Cabinet. Sir Keir said: “I go with a smile and I go proud of everything that we have achieved”. Sir Keir was surrounded by his closest aides as he delivered his farewell speech from Number 10 Credit: PA Andy Burnham spotted in central London just hours before he becomes Prime Minister Credit: Tayfun Salci He also praised the “resolve, grit, decency and compassion” of the British people, singling out members of the Armed Forces, NHS staff and volunteers. But he used the speech to say that the UK’s enemies will “stop at nothing” to divide the UK especially as it stands behind the Ukraine in its fight against Russia. He said: “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 great 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. Most read in The Sun Read Sir Keir Starmer's farewell speech in full “I’m about to visit His Majesty the King 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; 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 advanced. “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. “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. “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. “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.” “That we can change our country for the better, that we can create a Britain where every child will go as far as their talent will take them, and we can unite different people under our current flag if we don’t succumb to that division.” His closest political allies watched on as he delivered his address on the steps of Downing Street. Chancellor Rachel Reeves, expected to leave the Treasury, listened to his remarks along with Housing Secretary Steve Reed. Also seen were Justice Secretary David Lammy and London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan. He used his speech to talk of the change he has made to the Labour Party after taking over following the devastating defeat at the 2019 election. In a speech of less than five minutes, 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.” Comment now