Sir Keir Starmer faced MPs for his final Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, with many tributes, a littering of football jokes and tears by the end.
It comes as Andy Burnham takes over as Labour leader on Friday and subsequently as prime minister on Monday.
The questions opened with a focus on tributes for former MP Ann Widdecombe, who was allegedly murdered on Thursday.
Starmer said “we must do more to defend our democracy”, as well as suggesting a shield be added to the Commons in honour of Widdecombe, similar to that of murdered MPs Jo Cox and David Amess.
Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch paid tribute to the former Conservative minister, calling Widdecombe “a woman of high principle, profound beliefs, with a wicked sense of humour”.
The mood was mixed as MPs then focused on the World Cup and made lighthearted jokes ahead of the prime minister’s exit.
A question from Conservative MP Graham Stuart compared the outgoing PM to football superstar Jude Bellingham.
Stuart said the PM had played the role of the England No 10 by “scoring the winning goal and leading our team to victory” but went on to compare the sport with politics, calling it “a ruthless game”.
He joked that the PM has “been handed a red card by the 400 dodgy referees” and asked what Starmer’s advice would be to Burnham.
Starmer replied that it is likely “the first and sadly probably the last time” he will be compared to the football star and said “he won’t give advice” but instead gives his “wholehearted support”.
The PM, a keen football fan, went on to focus on England’s semi-final match and said: “I don’t care what the score is tonight, as long as we win.”
If England head to the final on Sunday, Starmer will attend, in what would be his final act as prime minister.
Starmer was keen to defend his record and Badenoch paid tribute to his successes throughout her remarks, noting particularly his work with Ukraine, saying it was the “one thing I did admire”.
This was the PM’s invitation to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit Downing Street after Trump “evicted” him from the White House, Starmer said, “we have stood united on Ukraine in this House”.
Speaker of the House, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, also paid tribute to Starmer’s record on Ukraine at the start of PMQs.
He thanked him “for his public service, his international leadership, particularly in his steadfast support for Ukraine”.
Labour MP Carolyn Harris cried through the final question to her “dear friend” saying “we’ve seen his decency and courage shine through” and wishing him and his family well.
Starmer continued this tribute to his wife and children, who were watching in the gallery simply telling them: “I love you” following a stream of thanks for his colleagues across the Commons, civil servants and his political team.
Sitting behind him, Chancellor Rachel Reeves was crying as Starmer said his final goodbye.
He credited “all across the country who struggle to be seen or heard” as his reason for coming in to politics, but calling it “the end of my political journey”.
Before appearing in Parliament, Starmer invited people whose “lives have been improved as a result of decisions made by this government”, keen to highlight the work that he had done during his time in No 10 before his exit on Monday.
These guests were in the gallery to watch his final grilling and Starmer made many references to their life stories and how his government has helped them.
Starmer noted Pooja Kanda, whose son Ronan was murdered by a teenager who bought a ninja sword online and the government has since passed Ronan’s Law, outlawing the manufacture, supply, sale and possession of ninja swords.
He also praised a breast cancer advocate, a mother who is fighting for online safety measures and a campaigner for cost-of-living support.
Burnham, who will become Labour leader on Friday and then prime minister on Monday, was not in the Commons, despite many references to the future government.
The new prime minister will not face his first PMQs until September, when MPs return from the summer parliamentary recess.
Burnham made his first appearance in the chamber on Tuesday evening, delivering his maiden speech during the debate on the Hillsborough Law, which is due to pass as law imminently.
Both Burnham and Starmer have been longstanding campaigners for this law, with Starmer working with the victims’ families when he was director of Public Prosecutions.
Starmer added it to the Labour manifesto in 2024, and it is due to be one of his final acts as prime minister.
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