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

Live Reporting

Edited by Imogen James and Angus Thompson, with Chris Mason and Brian Wheeler reporting from the Commons

  1. Starmer gifted carriage clock in his final days as PM

    Jennifer McKiernan
    Political reporter

    The clock face of the Elizabeth Tower, more commonly known as Big Ben in London, Britain, was 14 December 2023.EPA

    Starmer's carriage clock was created by the same designer behind the revamp of the Elizabeth Tower that houses Big Ben

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been gifted a carriage clock as a leaving gift ahead of what will be his final PMQs.

    Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy organised a collection for the clock, which was created by the same designer behind the revamp of the Elizabeth Tower housing Big Ben.

    Clocks have personal significance for Starmer, as his father was a collector of timepieces.

    Some ministers were left in tears at his final cabinet meeting this morning.

    Yesterday, Starmer oversaw the approval of the Hillsborough Act, a bid to prevent cover-ups linked to failures of the state, expected to be the last piece of legislation passed under his leadership.

    An ornate carriage clock with claw feet.Getty Images

    A 19th Century version of a carriage clock, though not the one Keir Starmer has been given

  2. Starmer leaves No 10 ahead of his final Prime Minister's Questions

    Keir Starmer has left 10 Downing Street and is on his way to the House of Commons for his final Prime Minister's Questions.

    He will face Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and fellow MPs from 12:00 BST.

    Stick with us for updates from the Commons, which you can also watch live at the top of this page.

    Keir Starmer leaves No 10 Downing StreetPA Media

  3. Johnson to Badenoch: Starmer's PMQs opponents

    Keir Starmer became Labour leader in April 2020.

    Since then, he has fielded questions from a number of Conservative politicians - both as opposition leader and prime minister - in the high-stakes political theatre of PMQs.

    Here's a look at who he has clashed with over the years:

    Dominic Raab, a man wearing a dark suit and blue tie, speaking in the House of Commons, with empty green benches behind himHouse of Commons

    Starmer's first PMQs as leader of the opposition was on 22 April 2020 against Dominic Raab - standing in for PM Boris Johnson who was hospitalised at the time with Covid

    Boris Johnson, a man wearing a dark suit and blue tie, speaking into a microphone at the House of CommonsJessica Taylor/PA

    Starmer regularly clashed with Boris Johnson during his time as prime minister

    Liz Truss, a woman, wearing a dark blazer, in the House of Commons looking to her left with her arm outstretchedJessica Taylor/PA

    He had fewer battles with Liz Truss, who was only in the job of PM for 49 days in 2022

    Rishi Sunak, a man, wearing a dark suit and blue tie, speaking into a black microphone in the House of Commons, with his right arm outstretched pointingMarie Unger/PA

    Starmer faced Rishi Sunak both when he was leader of the opposition and as prime minister - after Sunak stayed on as Tory leader for months after losing the election

    Kemi Badenoch, a woman wearing a white blazer, standing in the House of Commons, looking to her right with her arms in front of her as she talks.EPA/Shutterstock

    Kemi Badenoch, the current Tory leader, will be Starmer's last opponent at PMQs

  4. Starmer’s last Commons session as PM will be bittersweet

    Brian Wheeler
    Political reporter

    Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a reception for NHS staff at 10 Downing Street in London on July 6, 2026.Getty Images

    They think it’s all over for Keir Starmer and at midday it will be as he takes his 64th and final Prime Minister’s Questions.

    Starmer’s last Commons appearance as PM, after just over two years in the job, is likely to be a bittersweet affair.

    The normal Commons hostilities tend to take a back seat on occasions like this and MPs are already demob happy with the summer recess starting tomorrow.

    There is also the small matter of the World Cup. Starmer will no doubt begin by wishing England well in their semi-final clash with Argentina tonight.

    Larry the cat sitting in front of 10 Downing Street, London, decked out in St George's Cross flags ahead of England playing Argentina in the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday in Atlanta, USAPA

    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.

    Downing Street has said the outgoing PM does not want to “jinx” England by announcing his travel plans in advance.

    But if Starmer has to fly back from the US it could delay the handover of power to Andy Burnham, which is due to take place on Monday morning.

    Not that Burnham will mind, especially if England win.

  5. Remind me: Why is Keir Starmer stepping down as PM?

    Keir Starmer is shown hugging his wife Victoria after making his resignation statement in Downing StreetEPA

    Starmer pictured with his wife, Victoria, after making his resignation statement

    Starmer's future as PM looked increasingly uncertain in recent months, with Labour's heavy local, Welsh and Scottish election losses in May bringing the issue into sharp focus.

    Other events also knocked his support within the party and the polls, including the Mandelson saga, backbench rebellions and an early decision to scrap winter fuel payments for 10 million pensioners - a policy which his government later reversed course on.

    Starmer insisted he would hold on, but ultimately announced his resignation in late June shortly after Andy Burnham's decisive victory in the Makerfield by-election.

    Starmer said he had heard his party's questions about whether he was best placed to lead Labour into the next general election, and accepted their answer with "good grace".

  6. Labour Party set to have a new leader on Friday

    Possible candidates in the Labour leadership race have had a week to gather the required backing of 81 Labour MPs required to take part.

    Andy Burnham breezed past that threshhold, scooping 322 nominations in a single day when the contest officially opened on 9 July - clearing the way for an unopposed path to Downing Street.

    Burnham also needs to garner nominations from at least three of the 31 socialist societies and trade unions affiliated to the party, although this is expected to be a formality.

    On Friday, he will become the new leader of the Labour Party, and on Monday he will be sworn in as the UK's seventh prime minister in 10 years.

    A graphic shows the timeline for Labour selecting a new leader. Nominations open on 9 July, and close on 16 July. Parliament returns from summer recess on 1 September, by which time Labour must have a leader in place.

  7. Farage to meet Home Office team over security concerns

    Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage leaves Millbank Tower after making a televised speech in which he resigned as MP for Clacton, in central London on July 7, 2026Getty Images

    Earlier this week, Reform UK's Robert Jenrick accused the government of a "dereliction of duty" over the taxpayer-funded security of his party leader Nigel Farage.

    Speaking after it emerged that Reform had turned down an offer for government-funded security, Jenrick said Farage rejected the offer because he felt it was insufficient.

    It comes following the alleged murder of Reform's Ann Widdecombe, which is being investigated by counter terrorism police and has prompted renewed debate over politicians' security.

    "Frankly I find it astonishing that, just a short period after he was elected to Parliament, the authorities, the government, chose to massively downgrade his security," Jenrick told Radio 4 on Tuesday.

    The Home Office branded Jenrick's statements as "categorically untrue". Farage is set to meet the Home Office over his security arrangements, after accepting an offer of a meeting made by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

  8. 'Some legacy' for Starmer as MPs approve Hillsborough Law

    Burnham thanks Starmer for Hillsborough support

    MPs approved the Hillsborough Law on Tuesday evening in a bid to prevent cover-ups linked to failures of the state.

    Starmer praised campaigners for their work on the long-delayed legislation, which imposes a duty on public authorities and officials to tell the truth and co-operate with official investigations and inquiries.

    Andy Burnham said the bill ensures "justice for ordinary people going forward" and is "some legacy" for Keir Starmer, who he is expected to replace as PM.

    It is named after the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, which claimed 97 lives after a crush during the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

    Police leaders were found to have spread false narratives about the disaster, blaming Liverpool fans, and withheld evidence of their own failings.

    The legislation had been delayed by wrangling over how the duty of candour applies to the intelligence services.

    It will now be sent to the House of Lords for further scrutiny before it can become law.

    You can read more in our news story.

  9. Serious review of MP security needed after death of Ann Widdecombe, Burnham says

    Ann Widdecombe pictured at Reform UK conference in 2024 wearing red blazer and speaking into microphoneGetty Images

    Questions have been raised about MP safety in recent days, as police continue their murder investigation following the death of Ann Widdecombe.

    Andy Burnham - who is expected to become PM on 20 July - has said there should be a "serious review" of MPs' security and that he is "certainly" prepared to do that.

    In a Commons statement on Monday, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said "politics is a calling" for MPs but "should not be a dangerous one".

    She also offered Reform UK leader Nigel Farage a meeting with a parliamentary body to discuss security concerns - he thanked her and accepted the offer.

    When asked yesterday whether Widdecombe's death was an attack on Reform UK, the chief of Counter Terrorism Policing said he could not comment. Detectives are still working to understand the motive in what police have described as a "targeted attack".

    Widdecombe - a former Conservative minister turned Reform UK spokeswoman - was found dead at her home in Devon on Thursday.

    A 28-year-old white British man from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was arrested on suspicion of murder on Saturday, then re-arrested on Monday on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.

  10. Midnight social media curfew proposed for 16- and 17-year-olds

    Woman looking at mobile phoneGetty Images

    The government has announced plans to impose an overnight social media curfew for 16 and 17-year-olds in the UK.

    Apps such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube would be set to unavailable by default for the age group between midnight and 06:00 under the curfew.

    However, users will be able to opt out by changing their account settings, leading some critics to argue the plans don't go far enough.

    The government says the measures - which could also include disabling "addictive" features such as auto-play and infinite scroll - will improve teenagers' focus, sleep quality and family life.

    The plans follow the announcement in June that under-16s in the UK would be banned entirely from a range of platforms.

  11. Cabinet ministers depart Downing Street after Starmer's final cabinet meeting

    It is all smiles as cabinet ministers leave Downing Street following Keir Starmer's final cabinet meeting as prime minister.

    Starmer will face Kemi Badenoch in the Commons later in his final Prime Minister's Questions before he hands over leadership of Labour, and the government, to Andy Burnham.

    As always, we don't know what will come up in PMQs, but in the next few posts we'll go over the main politics stories of the week.

    Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle and Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall leaving Downing Street, London, after attending the final Cabinet meeting with Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister. Picture date: Wednesday July 15, 2026Reuters

    Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle and Science and Innovation and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall

    Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy walks past bunting with St George's Cross flags at Downing Street, on the day of a cabinet meeting, in London, Britain, July 15, 2026Reuters

    Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy

    British Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson walks past bunting with St George's Cross flags at Downing Street, following a cabinet meeting, in London, Britain, July 15, 2026Reuters

    Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson

  12. A bitter pill for Starmer to swallow as he faces a return to the back benches

    Becky Morton and Brian Wheeler
    Political reporters

    Keir and Victoria Starmer are shown smiling and waving outside the entrance to number 10 Downing Street.PA Media

    Keir Starmer and wife Victoria arrive at No 10 Downing Street in July 2024 following a resounding election victory

    Few politicians have endured a more dramatic fall from grace than Keir Starmer.

    Two years ago, he was celebrating a landslide general election victory and was seemingly set to dominate British politics for years to come.

    Now, he has been ejected from power by his own party and instead of ushering in a "decade of national renewal", as he had promised, he is contemplating a return to the back benches.

    The fact that he will go down now in history as Labour's shortest-serving prime minister will be a bitter pill for him to swallow.

  13. What can we expect from Starmer's final PMQs?

    Theresa May, wearing a blue blazer, standing in the House of Commons with two men sitting behind her.House of Commons

    Theresa May's last PMQs were on 24 July 2019

    A PM's final session of PMQs can be a friendlier event than usual, with tributes, good wishes and applause.

    In the case of Theresa May, who served as prime minister from 2016-2019, it lasted a mammoth 63 minutes, with tributes for May from across the house.

    Boris Johnson, who was PM from 2019-2022, had a final grilling which was acrimonious, raucous and littered with his colourful quips; he ended with a final "hasta la vista" farewell, to a standing ovation from the Conservative benches.

    The short-tenured Liz Truss meanwhile did not have conventional final PMQs; she held a regular session in 2022 in which she said she was "a fighter" - before announcing her resignation the next day.

    For Rishi Sunak, who served from 2022-2024, there was the unusual experience of having his final PMQs from the opposition benches - after staying on as Tory leader after losing the 2024 general election.

    Boris Johnson, a man, wearing a dark suit and blue tie, standing and speaking in the House of Commons with green benches behind him.House of Commons

    Boris Johnson bid farewell to PMQs on 20 July 2022

  14. Starmer to face final PMQs as Labour leader

    Katie Williams
    Live reporter

    PM Keir Starmer outside Number 10 Downing Street earlier this monthEPA

    Keir Starmer is set to appear for his final PMQs as prime minister and Labour leader.

    If previous sessions from outgoing leaders are anything to go by, we could be in for some heartfelt exchanges and quippy lines; more on that later.

    Andy Burnham is set to become Labour leader later this week, before taking office as prime minister on 20 July. He won't make his first PMQs appearance until after the summer recess.

    Starmer has promised to "keep [his] mouth shut" under his successor, and tells the BBC the pair have "always got on".

    But he has also warned that Burnham will face a "volatile world" and domestic challenges that aren't going away.

    Stick with us for the latest lines and analysis ahead of the Commons session, which you can watch live from 12:00 BST.