Summary

  • Keir Starmer tells MPs "this is the end of my political journey" as he is applauded out of his final PMQs as PM - here are his final remarks

  • Starmer and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch exchange jokes about their previous clashes, before he steps down as Labour leader and hands power to Andy Burnham

  • Badenoch asks Starmer if he agrees Burnham should come to the Commons and answer questions instead of "scurrying away for the summer" - the PM says he's sure Badenoch will question Burnham in the same way she has grilled him

  • Starmer and Badenoch also lead tributes to Ann Widdecombe, after she was killed last week

  • The PM says "we must do more to defend our democracy", while Badenoch describes Widdecombe as a "woman of high principle" with a "wicked sense of humour"

  • Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey thanks Starmer for his "public service", describing him as a "true patriot"

  • Today was a day where emotion and human feeling rose to the surface - and where a cross party respect for public service was acknowledged, writes Chris Mason

  1. Will Starmer ensure football is coming home, Reform askspublished at 12:39 BST

    Reform UK's Richard Tice wearing a navy blue suitImage source, House of Commons

    Reform UK MP Richard Tice says he has "good news" for the PM.

    Tice says "76% of England football matches have been won" during Starmer's tenure, which he says "is the greatest, most successful record of any prime minister in history".

    He asks Starmer if he will commit to "ensure his greatest legacy" is to make sure "finally that football is coming home".

    Starmer says he is "a massive football fan" and says it is "only under Labour governments" that England win the World Cup, to cheers from the benches.

  2. Stony faces from Reform as Davey jokes about Clacton by-electionpublished at 12:38 BST

    Brian Wheeler
    Reporting from the Commons

    Ed DaveyImage source, House of Commons

    There are stony faces on the Reform bench as Ed Davey makes a crack about “joke candidates” in the Clacton by-election.

    These Count Binface/Farage jokes are becoming a little formulaic now - but it won’t stop parties boycotting the contest from making them.

  3. Lib Dem leader shares admiration for Starmer, who he describes as 'a true patriot'published at 12:37 BST

    Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, echoes the prime minister's condolences following the death of Ann Widdecombe, saying she "devoted her life to public service" and that her death is "horrifying".

    He then wishes England luck against Argentina this evening, joking that it is Starmer's last job as prime minister to "make sure we win the World Cup".

    On the Clacton by-election, Davey says he "cannot back joke figures with ridiculous policies", adding: "Which is why I'm supporting Count Binface".

    Davey goes on to thank Starmer for his "public service", adding: "Although we've not always agreed, I've always admired the way he's led his party, the way he's been a true patriot."

    He asks Starmer if he will continue to speak up for family carers after he leaves No 10, as he has previously done so.

    "Yes," replies the PM, adding his thanks to Davey for his work on championing social care.

  4. Starmer says government should honour pledge on halving violence against women and girlspublished at 12:34 BST

    Labour MP Melanie Onn asks Starmer whether he agrees that the government must stick to its promise to honour Labour's pledge to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade.

    Starmer says he does agree the government should honour its pledge.

    He adds that no matter what role he may find himself in next, "I will continue to campaign for that for as long as I've got breath in my body".

  5. Starmer thanks Badenoch for 'private kindness' as they share final PMQs exchangepublished at 12:31 BST

    Media caption,

    PM thanks Badenoch as she pays tribute to his family

    Badenoch wraps up by paying tribute to Starmer's family, who are watching from the gallery.

    "I know how much his wife and children mean to him," she says, thanking them "for the love and support" they gave him as PM.

    Starmer thanks Badenoch and in turn wishes her and her family well.

    He adds that while the pair have had "robust exchanges", Badenoch has extended kindness to the PM privately, particularly when there was an attempt to burn down his family home, which Starmer says "deeply affected my family".

    Starmer also thanks Badenoch for reaching out to him when his brother died of cancer.

    The PM describes how being leader of the opposition is "the most difficult job in politics" and speaks about how he picked up Labour after the 2019 general election.

    He says that election "nearly broke my party" and that he is proud to leave the country in "a better shape than I found it".

  6. A new PM is 'not a silver bullet', Badenoch states, as Starmer defends recordpublished at 12:27 BST

    Kemi Badenoch wearing blue dressImage source, House of Commons

    “I say this to Labour MPs with as much goodwill as I can muster," Badenoch continues, adding that changing PM is not a silver bullet.

    Labour's problems, she suggests, may only just be beginning.

    Badenoch asks: "The PM once said that when he pulled the levers nothing happened – why did he think that was?"

    Starmer replies that Labour successfully pulled the levers on stabilising the economy.

    He adds that his government also strengthens public services, going on to list various achievements such as reducing NHS waiting lists and investing in defence.

  7. Starmer will give advice to successor 'privately', he says, as Badenoch jibes continuepublished at 12:25 BST

    Badenoch says "everyone in politics" would "do well to remember how quickly political fortunes can change".

    She says Starmer told her when she took up her role that she "wouldn't last the year".

    "Life comes at you fast," she jokes, prompting laughter from the PM.

    She again asks if Starmer has any advice for his successor.

    He says he will give his "wholehearted support" to the next PM, and that he wants the Labour government and the country "to be a success".

    "I will give my support privately if asked for, not publicly when not asked for," he adds.

  8. Badenoch challenges incoming PM Andy Burnham for 'scurrying away for the summer'published at 12:22 BST

    Kemi Badenoch wearing a blue dressImage source, House of Commons

    Badenoch asks Starmer if his successor Andy Burnham should come to the Commons to answer questions, rather than "scurrying away for the summer".

    Starmer replies that he has given answers in PMQs "at least 2,800 times", and says he is sure Badenoch will question his successor in the same manner she has questioned him.

    For context: Andy Burnham has not attended PMQs since returning to Parliament and there is no sign of him on the Labour benches again today. The former Greater Manchester mayor will face his first PMQs in early September, after the summer recess.

  9. 'Put your vote in the bin' Starmer advises people over Clacton by-electionpublished at 12:21 BST

    Badenoch goes on to say "we all hope" Starmer will be prime minister "when England win the World Cup".

    She says that's something everyone in the Commons should get behind, "especially the SNP", she adds with a smile.

    The Tory leader says Starmer led his party to a landslide victory "after a historic defeat", saying that she intends to do the same.

    She asks if the country deserves a televised debate between Nigel Farage and Count Binface ahead of the Clacton by-election.

    Starmer says his advice to everyone is to "put your vote in the bin", and reflects on the trade deal he secured with US President Donald Trump following his announcement of tariffs in April last year.

    He says there are guests in the gallery today who had their jobs saved by the deal.

  10. Starmer recalls 'emotional moment' he shared with Zelensky at Downing Streetpublished at 12:17 BST

    Screen grab of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaking during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, LondonImage source, House of Commons

    Starmer thanks Badenoch for her comments about Ukraine and describes how when Zelensky was "evicted from the Oval Office" last year and left the White House alone, he came straight to London.

    Starmer recalls how he walked out of Downing Street and gave Zelensky a hug.

    He says that was the first human contact the Ukrainian president had had outside of his team since leaving Washington DC.

    "That was a really emotional moment," Starmer says, also describing how British people cheered for Zelensky.

    Read more: What it was like in the room during Oval Office shouting match

  11. Badenoch praises Starmer for Zelensky invitation as she begins questionspublished at 12:16 BST

    Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch starts by also paying tribute to Ann Widdecombe.

    She says Widdecombe was a woman of "high principle" and had a "wicked sense of humour".

    "Hers was an honesty that made our politics better," Badenoch says, before turning to this week's PMQs.

    Badenoch says she plans to be much gentler than Starmer was to Boris Johnson during his last week as PM - with this, laughter fills the room.

    She says despite their weekly clashes, she admired Starmer when he invited Ukrainian President Zelensky to Downing Street after he experienced an angry confrontation with US President Donald Trump at the White House.

    Badenoch asks whether the PM agrees that cross-party support for Ukraine must endure.

    Media caption,

    Watch: Badenoch praises Starmer's support for Ukraine

  12. Starmer declines to give advice for incoming PMpublished at 12:12 BST

    Conservative MP Graham Stuart asks what advice Starmer has for his successor following his own "red card" from "400 dodgy referees" - meaning his government's Labour MPs.

    Starmer jokes he "won't give advice" to his successor or the England team but only will give "whole-hearted support".

    Starmer says he doesn't care "what the score is tonight, as long as we [England] win".

    If England make it to the final against Spain on Sunday, Starmer is widely expected to be there to cheer them on in New York.

  13. Starmer 'truly horrified' by Ann Widdecombe's death as he pays tributepublished at 12:08 BST

    Media caption,

    PM asks Commons to unite over MPs safety issue

    Starmer opens his final PMQs by paying tribute to Ann Widdecombe, the Reform UK spokesperson and former Conservative minister who was killed last week in what police have described as a "targeted attack".

    He says he is "truly horrified" by the incident, and describes her as a "distinguished politician with deep convictions", adding “we must do more to defend our democracy”.

    He then pays tribute to the courage of the Hillsborough families, and says the law approved by MPs yesterday ensures the state "always gives a voice to those who fight for justice".

    Starmer concludes by saying that in addition to his prime ministerial duties, he has an "important appointment with the television" at 20:00 this evening, in reference to England's World Cup semi-final against Argentina.

    For context: Widdecombe's death has led to parallel murder and counter terror investigations, though it has not been declared a terrorist incident. A white British man, 28, was arrested on Saturday. He was re-arrested on Monday on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

  14. Speaker offers thanks to Starmer and well wishes for England in World Cuppublished at 12:05 BST

    Before Prime Minister Keir Starmer begins speaking, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle thanks him for his leadership, in particular his foreign policy and his government's support for Ukraine.

    "And let's hope this prime minister will be bringing home a winning England World Cup," he adds, jokingly.

    Media caption,

    Speaker thanks Starmer as PMQs begins

  15. Starmer takes to the dispatch box - watch and follow PMQs livepublished at 12:01 BST

    StarmerImage source, House of Commons

    Keir Starmer is on his feet at the dispatch box for the final time.

    We'll bring you the latest lines or you can follow along by clicking the watch live button at the top of the page.

  16. The inevitably competitive world of politics meets the human realitypublished at 12:00 BST

    Chris Mason
    Political editor, reporting from the Commons

    The chamber is packed and the press gallery is packed.

    These moments are always quite something.

    Personal as well as political, as the inevitably competitive world of politics meets the human reality of a leader bowing out.

  17. Cheers fill the Commons as Starmer enters ahead of PMQspublished at 11:59 BST

    Keir Starmer has entered the Commons chamber to cheers from the Labour benches ahead of his final Prime Minister's Questions.

    We'll be getting under way shortly, stick with us.

  18. Press gallery busier than usual as Starmer's final PMQs nearspublished at 11:54 BST

    Brian Wheeler
    Reporting from the Commons

    The Commons press gallery is even more packed than usual as it approaches Starmer’s final PMQs.

    It looks as if his successor, Andy Burnham, is allowing Starmer to have his moment.

    He has not attended PMQs since returning to Parliament and there is no sign of him on the Labour benches again today.

    The former Greater Manchester mayor will face his first PMQs in early September.

  19. Standing ovation and tears at Starmer's last cabinet meetingpublished at 11:51 BST

    Chris Mason
    Political editor, reporting from the Commons

    A cabinet source says Keir Starmer was given a standing ovation at his final cabinet meeting as prime minister this morning.

    Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy addressed colleagues and praised Starmer for "turning the party around and his place in history".

    The prime minister, I’m told, "spoke really movingly" about the gift of an antique carriage clock from his senior ministers - which was presented to him this morning.

    Starmer said his dad loved clocks and were his father’s "biggest love after his family".

  20. The sparring PMQs relationship between Badenoch and Starmerpublished at 11:44 BST

    Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch speaks in CommonsImage source, House of Commons

    Current Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has developed a reputation as a ruthless PMQs opponent against Starmer.

    When she pushed him on Peter Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the US, Starmer's admission that Mandelson's continued friendship with Jeffrey Epstein did come up during the vetting process prompted gasps in the Commons and a dark mood among Labour MPs.

    Another memorable exchange came last summer when Starmer shut Badenoch down with a one-word answer when asked whether he planned to keep Labour's manifesto promise on tax.

    "Yes," he said, standing up and down in quick succession to laughs from the benches.

    For context: Ahead of last year's general election, Labour promised not to increase taxes on "working people", including National Insurance, Income Tax and VAT.