Keir Starmer declared “my work is done” as he stood down as prime minister after just two years in the job.
The prime minister delivered a brief farewell speech watched by dozens of supporters on the steps of 10 Downing Street before heading to Buckingham Palace with his wife, Victoria, to meet the King and formally resign.
He said he was quitting “with a smile” as he makes way for Andy Burnham – the UK’s sixth prime minister in a decade.
Starmer said: “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.”
The outgoing PM added: “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.”
Burnham, who became Labour leader on Friday, will shortly make his own journey to Buckingham Palace, where the King will ask him to form a government.
After making his own speech in Downing Street, the new prime minister will then appoint his cabinet.
Keir Starmer declared “my work is done” as he stood down as prime minister after just two years in the job.
The prime minister delivered a brief farewell speech watched by dozens of supporters on the steps of 10 Downing Street before heading to Buckingham Palace with his wife, Victoria, to meet the King and formally resign.
He said he was quitting “with a smile” as he makes way for Andy Burnham – the UK’s sixth prime minister in a decade.
Starmer said: “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.”
The outgoing PM added: “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.”
Burnham, who became Labour leader on Friday, will shortly make his own journey to Buckingham Palace, where the King will ask him to form a government.
After making his own speech in Downing Street, the new prime minister will then appoint his cabinet.