Outgoing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged his 'wholehearted support' to his successor, Andy Burnham, during his final session in Parliament. Starmer, who announced his resignation last month amid a series of scandals and policy missteps, expressed his desire to see the Labour government succeed under new leadership. 'I will give my wholehearted support to my successor. I want this Labour government to be a success,' Starmer stated. He emphasized that his support would be offered privately if requested, rather than publicly without solicitation.
Starmer's resignation follows a tumultuous two-year tenure, marked by controversies and policy reversals. Despite this, he believes he leaves the country in a better state than when he took office. '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,' he said.
Burnham is expected to be confirmed as Labour's leader on Friday, following significant support from MPs and major trade unions. With the party's majority in the House of Commons, he will automatically become the next prime minister. Starmer's final appearance in Parliament was marked by a more relaxed atmosphere, with MPs from all parties wishing him well and joking about the upcoming World Cup matches.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, while softening her tone, warned that changing prime ministers may not solve the UK's fundamental problems. 'Changing prime minister is not a silver bullet. Indeed, it may be that the Labour Party's troubles are only just beginning,' she said. Burnham is set to meet King Charles III to form the next government, becoming Britain's seventh prime minister in a decade.
Starmer concluded his political journey with an emphatic 'Goodbye' to Parliament, planning to watch the World Cup match later that evening. Although he will step down as Prime Minister, he intends to remain an MP for the time being. The transition marks a significant moment in UK politics, with implications for international relations, including those with Bangladesh.
