Starmer bids UK MPs 'goodbye', vows to support Burnham

LONDON, July 15:  Outgoing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday pledged his "wholehearted support" to his successor as he prepares to hand over to premier-in-waiting Andy Burnham.

Facing his last weekly grilling from MPs in parliament, Starmer said he wanted to see the next leader of his centre-left Labour party succeed.

"I will give my wholehearted support to my successor. I want this Labour government to be a success," he said, when asked what advice he had for his successor.

"I want our country to be a success. I shall give my support privately if asked for, not publicly when not asked for."
Starmer announced his resignation last month, bowing to months of pressure to step down after a series of scandals, missteps and policy U-turns. They blighted his two-year tenure, after he led his party to victory in 2024 elections following 14 years in opposition.�"AFP