LONDON: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he is leaving office believing the United Kingdom is in a better position than when he took charge, as he delivered a farewell address to Parliament ahead of his departure.
Speaking to lawmakers, Starmer described the speech as the conclusion of his political journey, saying every prime minister understands that the responsibility of leadership is temporary and must eventually be passed on to a successor.
Starmer said the Labour Party had transformed its fortunes over the past six years, rising from a historic electoral defeat to a decisive victory. He added that after two years in government, he was proud to leave the country in a stronger position.
Starmer is expected to formally step down in the coming days, with Andy Burnham set to succeed him as the United Kingdom’s next prime minister.
More read, Burnham calls for tougher UK pressure on Israel over Gaza
Earlier, Andy Burnham, who is expected to be named as Britain’s new prime minister later this month, wants to exert more pressure on the Israeli government over its actions in Gaza, the Guardian reported on Thursday.
In an interview with the newspaper, Burnham was critical of how Keir Starmer had initially reacted to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza in October 2023, which came after an attack on Israel by Hamas-led gunmen.
“We’ve got to do more to put pressure on the Israeli government … Yes, we have taken some important steps … But let’s be honest, the UK was too slow to call for a ceasefire. And we must now do more to strengthen our approach,” he said.
Starmer initially resisted calls from within his party, including from Burnham who was a regional mayor at the time, to demand a ceasefire, instead backing a humanitarian pause in the fighting.
