Outgoing UK PM vows "wholehearted support" for his successor

Outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged his "wholehearted support" to successor-in-waiting Andy Burnham as he prepared to leave office after two years in government.

During his final Prime Minister's Questions when asked what advice he would offer Burnham, Starmer said he wants this Labour government to be a success, Caliber.Az reports, citing Euronews.

"I want our country to be a success. I shall give my support privately if asked for, not publicly when not asked for," he noted.

Burnham is expected to be formally elected Labour leader on July 17 after securing overwhelming backing from the party's 403 MPs as well as support from major trade unions.

With Labour holding a commanding majority in the 650-seat House of Commons, Burnham is set to automatically become Britain's next prime minister and is expected to meet King Charles III on Monday to be invited to form a government.

Starmer announced his resignation last month following months of pressure stemming from a string of scandals, policy reversals and political missteps that overshadowed much of his premiership.

His departure comes just two years after leading Labour back to power in the 2024 election, ending 14 years of Conservative rule.

Lawmakers from across the political spectrum paid tribute to Starmer's public service during his final appearance at the dispatch box, while some jokingly urged the football enthusiast to help England overcome Argentina in Wednesday's World Cup semi-final and defeat Spain in Sunday's final.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch adopted a more conciliatory tone than usual but still took aim at the outgoing premier.

"He spent a long time laughing that I'd lost control of my party. I think he should have been paying attention to his backbenchers instead of mine," she remarked.

"Changing prime minister is not a silver bullet. Indeed, it may be that the Labour Party's troubles are only just beginning," Badenoch continued.

"Solving the fundamental problems in this country will require difficult decisions."

Burnham is set to become Britain's seventh prime minister in the past decade.

MPs responded with prolonged applause as Starmer delivered an emphatic "Goodbye" from the Commons chamber, noting that he had an appointment with his television at 8:00 p.m. CET to watch England's World Cup clash.

"This is the end of my political journey," he reflected, while indicating he intends to remain in parliament as an MP for now.

"In two years in government, I leave the country in better shape than I found it. I am proud of everything that we have achieved," Starmer added.

Seated beside him, Finance Minister Rachel Reeves, who is widely expected to leave her post in Burnham's incoming cabinet, was visibly emotional and appeared to be in tears.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov