Jacob Phillips
Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Keir Starmer declared "the end of my political journey" as he spoke at the dispatch box during an emotional final PMQs.

The prime minister began by paying tribute to Ann Widdecombe, saying he was "truly horrified" by her death, while Kemi Badenoch described the former Conservative MP as a "woman of high principle".

The Tory leader promised to give Starmer a gentler time than he had given Boris Johnson during his last PMQs - there was "a conciliatory and human tone" between the pair, writes our Political Editor Chris Mason.

Starmer thanked Badenoch for her support when there was an arson attack at his family home and his brother's death.

In turn, Badenoch praised Starmer for inviting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Downing Street after his angry exchange with Donald Trump.

Away from the usual business of PMQs there was extra time for football jokes, though Starmer dodged a question on whether he would declare a bank holiday if England win the World Cup.

There were also plenty of light-hearted moments, including when Starmer advised anyone voting in the Clacton by-election to "put your vote in the bin" - a nod to candidate Count Binface.

As Chancellor Rachel Reeves and members of his political team wiped away tears, Starmer signed off: "To my wife and children, I love you. Goodbye."

We're ending our live coverage - you can read our story here.

Ben Chu
BBC Verify policy and analysis correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Keir Starmer has overseen a number of changes since he took office in July 2024 - here's a closer a look at his record as he prepares to depart office:

Economic growth picked up - The UK economy registered the fastest growth among the G7 nations in the first quarter of 2026, expanding by 0.6%. However, many analysts do not expect this to last due to the war in Iran.

Immigration fell - The total number of Channel crossings last year was the second highest on record after 2022's peak under the previous Conservative government, though overall immigration to the UK and net migration have both fallen significantly.

NHS waiting lists down - The overall number of waits for treatment in England in April was 7.22 million, down from 7.62 million in June 2024, a decrease of 400,000.

Energy bills up - The latest domestic energy price cap set by Ofgem, the energy regulator, for the summer of 2026 is an annual rate of £1,862 for a typical household - in part reflecting the impact of global events like the Iran war.

Benefit spending increased - The latest forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility show the total UK welfare bill - including the state pension - rising from 10.7% of UK GDP in 2024-25 to 11.1% by 2029-30. Starmer attempted to curb the rising welfare bill, but was forced by his own backbenchers to retreat.

You can read more about Starmer's record in our news story.

As Keir Starmer faced his final Prime Minister's Questions, there was emotion in the chamber - and plenty of laughter too.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves looked visibly moved as Starmer delivered his final comments, before making his way out of the chamber to claps and a standing ovation from his colleagues in the House of Commons.

Image source, UK Parliament

Image source, UK Parliament

Image source, UK Parliament

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Keir Starmer says he will stay on as MP for Holborn and St Pancras after stepping down as prime minister next week.

There's no real precedent for what is expected from a prime minister after they resign, but here's what the last few have done:

• Rishi Sunak - After losing the 2024 general election, Sunak remained Conservative leader and leader of the opposition until he was succeeded by Kemi Badenoch in November 2024 - and has remained an MP since
• Liz Truss - After her short-lived 2022 tenure as prime minister, Truss remained a back-bench Tory MP until losing her seat at the 2024 general election
• Boris Johnson - Resigning as PM in 2022 following a number of scandals, including partygate, Johnson remained a back-bench MP for less than a year before leaving Parliament in June 2023
• Theresa May - May resigned as prime minister in 2019 after failing to get her party to agree on a Brexit deal, but remained an MP for five years until standing down at the 2024 general election
• David Cameron - After resigning as PM following 2016's Brexit referendum, Cameron left the Commons a few months later, stating it would be "a big distraction" for him to remain on the back benches

However, Cameron then made a shock return to government in 2023, when he was sworn into the House of Lords and appointed foreign secretary by Sunak.

Kate Whannel
Political reporter

Image source, Getty Images

This time next week, Keir Starmer will no longer be prime minister and consequently will have a bit more time on his hands.

Earlier this month, the BBC’s Henry Zeffman asked Starmer if he had another big job in him - potentially an international role.

“I don’t know is the honest answer to that,” Starmer replied, adding that he would be focusing on being prime minister “until the day I leave”.

He also promised that once gone he would be “keeping my mouth shut, rather than giving constant advice to my successor”.

Some of his predecessors have stepped down as MPs shortly after resigning as prime minister - see Tony Blair and David Cameron - however, Starmer insisted he would be staying on as the MP for the north London constituency of Holborn and St Pancras.

Brian Wheeler
Reporting from the Commons

Speaker Hoyle is nothing if not a stickler for the rules.

He scolded MPs for applauding Keir Starmer - which is against the rules - rather than cheering and waving their order papers, which is allowed.

Starmer is not the first PM to bow out to a standing ovation from his MPs, with the whole House taking part when Tony Blair departed.

The Tories on this occasion did not join in, remaining firmly in their seats.

The Lib Dems and Reform’s Richard Tice and Danny Kruger joined in but former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn stayed in his seat.

Joe Coughlan
Live reporter

Image source, UK Parliament

Today's exchanges between Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch were friendlier than usual - with the opposition leader saying she planned to be gentler to the prime minister than he was to Boris Johnson during his final PMQs session.

• Already keen to face Starmer's successor, Badenoch accused Andy Burnham of "scurrying away for the summer" instead of answering questions in the Commons, adding that "changing PM is not a silver bullet"
• Starmer declined to share any advice he may have for Burnham, instead saying he would give the next PM his "wholehearted support" and offer advice privately if requested
• The PM also took the time to point out achievements over his tenure, saying that Labour had successfully stabilised the economy and strengthened public services - later saying he was proud to leave the country "in a better shape than I found it"
• Jibes were also made at Nigel Farage's upcoming contest against Count Binface in the Clacton by-election, to which Starmer said "put your vote in the bin"
• Badenoch commended Starmer for inviting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Downing Street following his tense exchange with Donald Trump in the White House last year, which the PM described as "a really emotional moment"
• The pair ended proceedings by wishing each other's families well, with Starmer saying that despite their "robust exchanges" he appreciated Badenoch's "private kindness", particularly when there was an attempt to burn down his family home

We'll bring you more reaction and analysis shortly - stay tuned.

Image source, UK Parliament/PA

We can now bring you Keir Starmer's final PMQs statement to the House of Commons, in full:

"Every prime minister knows, when they take up the torch, that the day will come when they will 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 in 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 are 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.

"To my colleagues on these benches, I’m 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 are the reason I came into politics.

"To my wife and children, I love you, goodbye"

Chris Mason
Political editor, reporting from the Commons

In the final moments of Keir Starmer’s time at the dispatch box, some of his political team could be seen wiping away a tear.

For all of politics’ necessary competitiveness and blunt contentions, today was a day where emotion and human feeling rose to the surface - and where a cross-party respect for public service was acknowledged.

After his final "goodbye", Starmer leaves PMQs for the last time as prime minister.

He receives a standing ovation, claps and cheers from the Labour benches, and from a few members of other parties around the chamber, as he makes his way past members of his cabinet.

He shakes hands with Speaker Lindsay Hoyle - they share a few brief words before Starmer leaves the Commons.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves appeared to be emotional and tearful as Keir Starmer delivered his final comments from the dispatch box.

Image source, House of Commons

Keir Starmer now faces his final question at Prime Minister's Questions from Labour MP Carolyn Harris.

Holding back tears, she praises Starmer for his leadership. "Every day we see his decency and his courage shine through," she says, and asks the House to pay tribute to the PM and his family.

Starmer thanks her for her question, and also for her support and friendship, particularly towards his wife and children.

He acknowledges it is his "last answer from this dispatch box", adding: "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 two years in government, I leave the country in better shape than I found it. I am proud of everything that we have achieved."

Lib Dem MP Will Forster asks the PM if his last act should be to declare a bank holiday if England wins the World Cup.

Starmer replies that he doesn't want to jinx the result, and as for the question of the bank holiday, Forster should ask him again on Sunday.

Conservative MP Jerome Mayhew says the PM "appears to have been brought down by an inability to articulate a plan for government".

Mayhew then says "it must be tough" to be replaced by someone "who refuses to say whether he's even got a plan", referring to Andy Burnham.

He asks whether Starmer agrees that the House will "be missing him" in a few months time.

Starmer cites several actions the government has taken, including, he says, stabilising the economy and "stronger public services".

"That's not just a plan, it's a plan being delivered," Starmer says.

Brian Wheeler
Reporting from the Commons

Danny Kruger - a Tory MP who defected to Reform UK - takes Starmer’s retort to his question about the Clacton by-election on the chin.

The PM says he knows Reform believes in recycling politicians, which is met with a roar of approval from all sides except Reform.

Reform UK's Danny Kruger asks Starmer who he supports in the Clacton by-election, given Labour has not put a candidate forward.

"Politics is not a joke," Kruger says, adding that every major party has supported Count Binface, a "comedian with a dustbin on his head", to stand against Reform leader Nigel Farage.

Starmer replies that he "knows Reform believe in recycling politicians" - to jeers from across the chamber.

"I wonder if he really thought spending summer arguing with a bin was what he had in mind when he defected to the benches up there," Starmer adds.

For context: Danny Kruger was previously a Conservative MP and switched allegiance to Reform UK in September 2025 - the first sitting Conservative MP to do so.

Labour MP Lloyd Hatton pays tribute to the PM's "steadfast leadership in the face of two major conflicts".

He asks if he agrees that the UK should use every diplomatic tool it has to crack down on "hostile states" such as Russia and Iran.

Starmer says he is proud to have set up the Coalition of the Willing, adding that he is "honoured" the Ukrainian ambassador is in the gallery today.

"Let me say to him and all Ukrainians we are united in this House against Russian aggression; that work began before I was prime minister, it will continue afterwards," he says.

Starmer adds that Ukraine's security "is our security, and this house is proud to stand with you".

Brian Wheeler
Reporting from the Commons

Jeremy Corbyn is trying to catch the Speaker’s eye. Will Starmer’s predecessor as Labour leader be allowed to have his say?

Labour MP Lola McEvoy mentions a young constituent called Olivia who will be safer because of Starmer's actions on social media.

Since social media policy has been a big feature of his time in office, could the PM share any viral moments that cut through in the Starmer household, she asks.

He says he once got into trouble at a primary school when an eight-year-old encouraged him to “join in with the whole six-seven thing and the whole class joined in and it went viral".

He gives a demonstration to the Commons.

The head teacher then told him off, a laughing Starmer recalls.

“I was totally pathetic - I’d simply said 'I didn’t start it',” Starmer says of his reply to the headteacher, to laughter in the chamber.

Chris Mason
Political editor, reporting from the Commons

Exchanges like today’s stick in the memory because they are atypical of the weekly verbal jousting we associate with Prime Minister’s Questions.

I recall Tony Blair’s final outing in this chamber nearly 20 years ago, and there have been plenty since.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch struck a conciliatory and human tone, as did Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats.