Outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has thanked campaigners whose causes he championed in office, saying they helped "shape me and make me who I am." Speaking at a Downing Street reception on the eve of his departure, Starmer vowed to continue supporting their fights for justice.
Starmer, who will leave No 10 on Monday and hand power to Andy Burnham, praised the families affected by the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, as he guided the Hillsborough Law through its final Commons stages. He also acknowledged other campaigners present, including John and Penny Clough, who campaigned for bail law changes after their daughter Jane's murder; Figen Murray, who pushed for public safety reforms after her son Martyn Hett died in the Manchester Arena bombing; and Pooja Kanda, who championed tougher knife laws after her son Ronan was stabbed.
Emotional Tribute to Campaigners
Starmer, a father of two teenagers, said: "I speak as a dad – if anything happened to them, I honestly don’t know whether I would have the strength to do anything about it. And yet, I look around this garden, I see people who have lost their loved ones, and they have done something about it. And they’ve changed things, not just for themselves, usually not even for themselves, but for other people to make sure that they won’t go through the same thing."
He added: "That has had a profound impact on me, and I can tell you that whatever happens next in my life, I’m never giving up on this. As long as I’ve got breath in my body, I’m going to campaign on all these issues with all of you for as long as is necessary."
Legacy and Final Days
The Prime Minister highlighted his legacy, including support for Ukraine and domestic campaigns like the Hillsborough Law. He said: "I leave on Monday. I leave with good grace, I leave very pleased with what we’ve been able to achieve in government in the two years that I’ve had the privilege of being prime minister. I’m pleased to have delivered on the promises that I made to many people in this garden, and I’ll make this last promise, which is I will stand with you and walk with you for as long as I’ve got breath in my body."
European Engagement
Starmer addressed the Downing Street gathering after returning from Paris, where he attended a meeting of the "coalition of the willing" supporting Ukraine. On Tuesday morning, he joined Emmanuel Macron and other leaders at the Bastille Day celebrations, symbolising closer post-Brexit ties with European neighbours. Macron awarded Starmer the Legion d’honneur in recognition of his support for Ukraine and European relations.
