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Keir Starmer formally resigned as United Kingdom prime minister after meeting King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, ending his premiership as Andy Burnham prepared to form a new government.
Buckingham Palace said Starmer met the king on Monday morning and submitted his official resignation from his government leadership roles.
“Sir Keir Starmer MP had an audience of The King this morning and tendered his resignation as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury, which His Majesty was graciously pleased to accept,” the palace said.
Lady Starmer was also received by the king.
The U.K. was temporarily without a prime minister following Starmer’s resignation and before the king’s expected invitation to Burnham to form a government.
Before traveling to Buckingham Palace, Starmer delivered his final speech as prime minister from Downing Street, declaring: “My work is done.”
Reflecting on his six and a half years as Labour leader, Starmer said he had taken the party from its historic defeat in 2019, changed it so it was ready to face the country and led it to a landslide general election victory in 2024.
“Since then, it has been the privilege of my life to serve you and this great country as prime minister, and I am confident that Britain is now stronger and fairer than it was two years ago,” he said.
Starmer said his government had lifted children out of poverty, reduced immigration, placed defense on a stronger footing and enhanced the U.K.’s international reputation.
Starmer described the most humbling aspect of serving as prime minister as having a front-row seat to witness the country’s greatest qualities in action.
“Whether that’s in their regimental colours, NHS scrubs or simply the millions of people in their communities who volunteer their time and their effort to the ground beneath their feet,” he said.
The departing prime minister also called for national unity in a world where Britain’s enemies, he said, “will stop at nothing to divide us,” partly because of the country’s “unflinching resolve towards the brave people of Ukraine.”
He wished Burnham “every success” as his successor and thanked Downing Street staff as well as his wife, Victoria.
“I go with good grace, I go with a smile and I go proud of everything that we have achieved. Thank you very much,” Starmer concluded.
Attorney General Lord Richard Hermer praised Starmer’s final appearance in Downing Street, saying the outgoing prime minister had once again shown dignity and grace.
“I think we’re going to look back at this period as one in which he made huge strides both domestically and internationally in this country,” Hermer, a close Starmer ally, told Sky News.
“He has set this foundation that I have no doubt Andy Burnham is going to pick up and run with.”
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