Sir Keir Starmer receives world‑leader tributes as he exits UK premiership

Outgoing UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pledged to continue campaigning on social‑justice issues while receiving public farewells from international leaders. At a press conference in Paris following a “Coalition of the Willing” meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron thanked Starmer for his support of Ukraine and awarded him the Legion d’honneur. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also praised the cooperation between the UK and Europe during Starmer’s two‑year tenure.

Back in London, Starmer addressed a gathering of campaigners whose causes he championed, including families of the Hillsborough disaster, victims of the Manchester Arena bombing and those advocating tougher knife‑law reforms. He said they had “made me who I am” and vowed to keep fighting for their causes as long as he could. The Prime Minister will hand power to Andy Burnham on Monday, ending his time in office after two years.