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Starmer formally resigns as PM at meeting with king
Keir Starmer has formally resigned as prime minister after a meeting with the king at Buckingham Palace, the Press Association reports.
Key events
Here is a picture of Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria arriving at Buckingham Palace, where they were met by Sir Clive Alderton (left), principal private secretary to the king.
Buckingham Palace has issued this statement.
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.
Lady Starmer was also received by The King.
Starmer formally resigns as PM at meeting with king
Keir Starmer has formally resigned as prime minister after a meeting with the king at Buckingham Palace, the Press Association reports.
This is from the Labour MP Kirsty McNeill about Keir Starmer’s speech, and the passage about the great things done by millions of Britons. (See 11.26am.)
What a beautiful line from Keir Starmer, about the millions of people who devote their efforts to changing the ground beneath their feet. He is one of them and his public service has changed lives for the better.
Here are some more pictures of Keir Starmer’s departure from Downing Street.
Keir Starmer is now at Buckingham Palace for his audience with the king.
Starmer says he’s leaving No 10 with ‘good grace’ and a ‘smile’
Starmer finished his speech by saying Andy Burnham had his full support.
So as I now pass the baton to Andy Burnham, I wish him every success. He has my full support.
And finally, I want to thank once again my family, Vic and our children, my team, all the staff here and across the Labour party, everyone at No 10 and across the civil service and everyone who has supported our efforts along the way.
For all the focus on individuals, politics will always be a team sport and the changes we’ve delivered for our country and our party belong to everyone who has fought for them. I thank them again today.
And I thank the British people for the opportunity to serve.
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 praises acts of ‘resolve, grit, decency and compassion’ done by millions of Britons every day
Starmer says the most humbling aspect of the job has been the ability to see the greatest things the country can do.
The most humbling aspect of this job is the front row seat. You get to witness the greatest things of this country in action, to see every day immeasurable acts of resolve, grit, decency and compassion from people who serve our country, 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.
We face a world now where our enemies will stop at nothing to divide us because of our values, our freedom, our decency, and frankly, because of our unflinching resolve towards the brave people of Ukraine.
And so, under this attack, it is vital that we remember the greatness of the Britain all around us; that while we debate how to fix our problems, there is something we inherit from our country and our character that can give us confidence that we can change our country for the better; that we can create a Britain where every child can go as far as their talent will take them, and we can unite different people under our common flag if we don’t succumb to that division.
Starmer says Britain is ‘stronger and fairer than it was 2 years ago’
Starmer says:
I’m about to visit His Majesty the King to offer my resignation and close the book on my time as prime minister.
My work is done.
In six and a half years I took our party from a historic defeat in 2019, changed it so it was fit to face the country, and won 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.
Our economy is stronger. Our public services are on the up, with the biggest fall in waiting times for 17 years.
Children are being lifted out of poverty every single day.
Immigration is down significantly.
Our defence and security are on a far stronger footing, and our international reputation is greatly enhanced.
Starmer starts by saying his work is done.
He says he is going to see the king to resign.
His work is done, he says.
