Another prime minister has gonepublished at 11:38 BST 20 July

11:38 BST 20 July

Chris Mason
Political editor, at Downing Street

Image source, Getty Images

Keir Starmer reflected on what he sees as his achievements in office, but also those reflections on reviving the Labour Party and bringing it back from its defeats under Jeremy Corbyn.

But the extent to which he leans on that as part of his legacy tells us how limited the window has turned out to be for him to achieve in office, such was the impatience of his party at what they perceived to be a failure to deliver and deliver sufficiently quickly.

That's the root cause of these scenes we are seeing at Downing Street now of Labour and Keir Starmer's staff embracing the odd tear shed there - it's a really big moment for these staff.

Image source, Reuters

And there we have it, Keir Starmer has delivered his final speech as prime minister - here’s a rundown of what we heard:

• My work is done, the outgoing PM said as he took to the lectern outside Downing Street for the last time
• Starmer says he took the Labour Party from a "historic defeat" to a landslide victory in 2024, adding Britain is now a stronger and fairer country

• He wished his successor "every success" and said Andy Burnham has his "full support"
• The outgoing PM thanked his family and staff before saying he would leave Downing Street with "good grace" and a "smile"

Daniela Relph
Senior royal correspondent, at Buckingham Palace

Starmer was driven into the main quadrangle of Buckingham Palace, ready to meet the King along with his wife Lady Victoria.

It's an important show of constitutional monarchy.

He arrived at the luggage door of the palace because of the renovation work that is being done elsewhere.

They will be taken to the Chinese dining room, again not the normal venue they would host this in, so things are a bit different but there is tradition over what will happen in the next 20 minutes.

Starmer meets the King privately, and there will be two chairs next to one another, they will chat and a single photograph will be issued later on.

The King will accept Starmer's resignation, and there is time for the two men to reflect on Starmer's time in office.

The PM's two children and wife are there, who will also meet the King.

And that will be it. Within minutes after, we expect to see the arrival of Andy Burnham.

A brief, less emotional speech from Starmerpublished at 11:29 BST 20 July

11:29 BST 20 July

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent, at Downing Street

A brief speech from Keir Starmer making a similar argument to that he’s made several times in recent weeks: that he has left the country in a better state than he has found it.

There was less visible emotion than when he resigned last month. After all, he has now had several weeks to process his political demise.

There is plenty of emotion from those aides who had been present for the speech, many of them now milling about in the street hugging. The group includes some former advisers and officials who departed in fraught circumstances.

One observation from the street is that it was a novelty for those of us present to actually be able to hear the speech without the noise of protesting from just outside the Downing Street gates. The Met Police banned amplified noise in the immediate vicinity for the first time.

Image source, EPA

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, at Buckingham Palace

Image source, Reuters

For the handover of power at the Palace, it’s something of a sliding doors moment.

We've just seen Keir Starmer arrive at the Palace.

Later, we'll see the mirror image, as incoming PM Andy Burnham arrives in another set of cars.

For the new PM that drive back to Downing Street must be the first taste of a new reality, moving in police convoys, in cars flanked by outriders and intense protection. They’re inside the security bubble now.

For ex-PMs, security continues despite leaving office, so this is the start of a different way of life for Burnham and his family.

The prime minister has entered Buckingham Palace after a short drive from Downing Street.

The King will meet him shortly, and Starmer will stand down as PM.

Image source, PA Media

Starmer concludes his speech, saying "I go with good grace, I go with a smile, and I go proud of everything we have achieved".

After applause from the assembled crowd, he gets in a car and heads to Buckingham Palace.

Starmer says as he now passes the baton to Andy Burnham: "I wish him every success, he has my full support."

He thanks his wife and family and his team across the Labour Party, and everyone at No 10 and across the civil service.

"Politics will always be a team sport," he says. "And I thank the British people for the opportunity to serve."

Image source, PA Media

Starmer has wrapped up his speech and is now being driven to Buckingham Palace.

We'll bring you the last few comments from his farewell address shortly.

Upon his arrival at the Palace, he will tender his resignation to King Charles III.

Image source, PA Media

Starmer says at the end of his time as PM the economy is stronger, public services are on the up, children are being lifted out of poverty, immigration is down and the international reputation is "greatly enhanced".

But he says the thing he will take away, the "most humbling aspect" of the job, is the "front row seat you get to witness the greatest things of this country in action".

He says he sees this from people who serve the country, whether it's military, NHS workers, or people in communities.

"We face a world now where our enemies will stop at nothing to divide us because of our values," he says.

Under this attack, it is "vital" to remember the "greatness of Britain all around us", he adds.

Image source, PA Media

After walking out to loud cheers and applause, Starmer begins by saying he is about to offer his resignation to King Charles III and "close the book on my time as PM".

"My work is done," he says.

He says it has been the "privilege of my life" to serve as prime minister and says he is confident the country is "strong and fairer" than it was two years ago.

Image source, Reuters

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is at the lectern outside No 10 and is now giving his farewell speech.

We’ll bring you the key lines, and you can watch live above.

Image source, PA Media

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and Chancellor Rachel Reeves are among those on Downing Street for Keir Starmer's final speech as prime minister.

The pair have served in Starmer's cabinet, but their roles in Burnham's top team are yet to be determined. Will they still be in their roles by the end of the day?

Image source, Getty Images

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent, at Downing Street

It feels like Keir Starmer’s departure is imminent.

Among the additional cabinet ministers who have joined the throng in the street are David Lammy, Steve Reed, Darren Jones and Richard Hermer.

Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, who was appointed to the House of Lords by Starmer last week, is also here.

Image source, Getty Images

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent, at Downing Street

Image source, Reuters

Dozens of Keir Starmer’s friends and allies are now lining Downing Street.

This time, unlike his resignation speech last month, Rachel Reeves is among them.

It’s an echo of the choreography of Starmer’s arrival in Downing Street just over two years ago.

Back then it would have been unimaginable to Starmer that he’d be leaving so soon.

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, at Buckingham Palace

It’s a beautiful summer’s morning here, with a display of appropriately red flowers in the flower beds, luminous against the parched grass.

There’s a blue sky over that famous Palace facade - the Royal Standard is now up, showing the presence of the King.

The incoming PM wants to rekindle a sense of optimism - and he might optimistically think that the tourist crowds gathered round the gates are here for his big political moment.

But from the comments around here, it might be Changing of the Guard that's brought them.

Although, in a way, it’s a different kind of Changing of the Guard…

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent, reporting from Downing Street

Image source, Getty Images

The lectern for Keir Starmer’s final speech as prime minister has been placed in Downing Street.

We’re expecting him to speak in approximately half an hour.

Image source, Getty Images

Brian Wheeler
Political reporter

Downing Street is both a place of work and a home for UK prime ministers.

And one of the enduring traditions is for an outgoing PM and their spouse to be "clapped out" as they leave the building for the final time.

Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria will be flanked by applauding household staff and special advisers - some of whom are arrviving already - in the No 10 entrance hall before emerging into the glare of the assembled media outside.

Hours later, the new PM Andy Burnham and his wife, Marie-France van Heel, or Frankie as she is known, will be "clapped in" by the same people who applauded the previous residents as they left.

It’s a strange way to arrive at your new home, but it's the first stage in the new PM getting to know the people he is going to be living and working with, and vice versa.

Image source, Reuters

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent, at Downing Street

Image source, Reuters

Large groups of special advisers have begun arriving at No 10.

Presumably they will stand in the street to cheer Keir Starmer off after his farewell speech - as has become tradition over the past few prime minister handovers.

A small group of ministers have also arrived, among them Jo Stevens, the Welsh secretary, and Baroness Chapman, the aid minister, both longstanding political friends of the outgoing PM.

Lord Timpson, the prisons minister, whose resignation my colleague Sima Kotecha revealed earlier, also walked into No 10 alongside Lord Vallance, the science minister.

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent, at Downing Street

This is Keir Starmer’s last hour or so as prime minister.

He woke up in the flat above Downing Street (actually he lives in what is traditionally the chancellor’s residence above No 11) for the last time.

Now will be a moment for emotional farewells not only to his political team - some of whom are staying on to work for Andy Burnham - but to the civil servants with whom he has worked for two years and who will be doing exactly the same jobs for Burnham by this afternoon.

Those officials, like us, are used to the political churn of recent years but it won’t make those moments any less emotional and strange.