Outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer (Labour) completed his final Prime Minister’s Questions session in the House of Commons on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 [6].
Starmer's departure marks a significant leadership transition for the United Kingdom. His exit paves the way for Deputy Prime Minister Andy Burnham (Labour) to assume leadership of the party and the government.
During the session, Starmer reflected on his tenure, noting he spent six years as leader of the Labour Party and two years as prime minister [2, 3]. "My political journey is over," Starmer said [1].
The session touched on a variety of topics, including England’s progress in the World Cup, and a by-election featuring Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Count Binface of the Green Party. Starmer also addressed the timeline for his successor, noting that Burnham is scheduled to become Labour leader on Friday, July 12, 2024 [4], and prime minister on Monday, July 15, 2026 [5].
Starmer used his final appearance to levy a sharp criticism against Farage. He alleged that Farage received a £5 million gift from a crypto billionaire and failed to declare it [7]. "He received a £5 million gift from a crypto billionaire and has failed to declare it," Starmer said [7].
Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch also participated in the exchange as the House of Commons navigated the final moments of Starmer's premiership. The session served as the final opportunity for the outgoing leader to address Parliament and establish his record before officially stepping down.
“My political journey is over.”
The transition from Starmer to Burnham represents a planned handover of power within the Labour Party. By using his final PMQs to highlight financial irregularities regarding Nigel Farage, Starmer sought to weaken a key political rival's standing just as the government shifts leadership, ensuring the political narrative remains focused on Reform UK's transparency issues during the transition.
