Posting on X on Monday, Starmer wrote, "The test of any Prime Minister is: do you leave your country in a better place than you found it? I'm proud that the answer is yes."

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that he was leaving the United Kingdom in "better shape than I found it" as he fielded questions, criticism and even a bit of praise from lawmakers in the House of Commons for the last time on Wednesday. ... "I am proud to leave this country in better shape than I found it," he said.

On his verified Facebook page, Keir Starmer published a post reading: "The test of any Prime Minister is: do you leave your country in a better place than you found it? I’m proud that the answer is yes." The wording matches the claim exactly, including the question and the concluding sentence about being proud that the answer is yes.

Sir Keir Starmer has claimed that he is leaving Britain in a better state than when he became Prime Minister. Taking his final Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) on Wednesday, the outgoing Labour Party leader said his government had stabilised the UK economy, strengthened national security and enhanced Britain's reputation on the world stage. Sir Keir told the Commons: "I'm proud to leave this country in a better shape than I found it."

The test of any Prime Minister is: do you leave your country in a better place than you found it? I’m proud that the answer is yes. I have made it my mission to give a voice to those who were ignored for too long. I promised that my government would deliver the Hillsborough Law. I’m proud that today we’re making good on that promise.

Departing, Sir Keir Starmer said he was proud "to leave this country in a better shape than I found it". Presumably, his words deliberately echo those which Margaret Thatcher used as she stood on the steps of 10 Downing Street for the last time in November 1990: he subliminally presents himself as another brave prime minister forced out by envious colleagues. Mrs Thatcher said: "We leave the United Kingdom in a very, very much better state than when we came here 11-and-a-half years ago."

Sir Keir said he was leaving the UK in a better state than when he started in the job, pointing to work his administration has done on child poverty, defence and security. "And then on the international stage, where our reputation is in a materially better place now than it was two years ago. The answer to the question, do I leave the country in a better state than I found it? The answer to that question is yes. My job now is to make sure that my successor can build on that, and that's what I'm doing."

This will be my last answer from this Dispatch Box. Every Prime Minister knows when they take up the torch that the day will come when they have to pass it on. That day has come for me. This is the end of my political journey. In six years, we went from historic defeat in 2019 to historic victory in 2024, and after two years in government, I leave the country in better shape than I found it in. I am proud of everything that we have achieved.

Sir Keir Starmer has declared his resignation as both Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party. Below is the complete text of his resignation address: ... "Every choice I have made has prioritized the country I cherish. Therefore, I will resign as the leader of the Labour Party. This morning, I have communicated my decision to His Majesty the King. I will continue in my role as Prime Minister until the contest concludes."

The test for every Prime Minister is handing over the country in a better shape than you found it. He added: "I know I can do that. Which is more than can be said for her predecessor, her predecessor's predecessor, and her predecessor's predecessor's predecessor."

The Prime Minister told the Leader of the Opposition: "The test for every Prime Minister is handing over the country in better shape than you found it." He added: "I know I can do that. Which is more than can be said for her predecessor, her predecessor's predecessor, and her predecessor's predecessor's predecessor."

The principles we took into the negotiations are clear and simple. Does it drive down bills? Does it drive up jobs? Does it strengthen our borders? In each case, the answer is a resoundingly yes. These deals release us from the tired arguments of the past and, as an independent sovereign nation, allow us to seize the opportunities of the future—a clear message, sent across the globe, that Britain is back on the world stage.

Sir Keir said he was leaving the UK in a better state than when he started in the job, pointing to work his administration has done on child poverty, defence and security. "And then on the international stage, where our reputation is in a materially better place now than it was two years ago. "The answer to the question, do I leave the country in a better state than I found it? The answer to that question is yes."

Keir Starmer wrapped up his final Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) session in the lower house of the UK Parliament on Wednesday with an emotional farewell and standing ovation from the government benches. The 63-year-old Labour MP, who announced his resignation last month and has been serving as caretaker until the party leader is elected, said he was leaving Britain in a better place than he found it and expressed “wholehearted support” for his successor. “I'm proud to leave this country in a better shape than I found it; I am proud of everything that we have achieved,” Starmer told MPs in the House of Commons as he concluded PMQs with “goodbye.”

Outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer took part in his last Prime Minister's Questions at the House of Commons, stating that the country has become a better place during his two-year tenure. ... "After two years in government, I leave the country in better shape than I found it in. I am proud of everything that we have achieved."

Keir Starmer has defiantly backed last week's Budget saying he is "proud" of it. Speaking in central London, the Prime Minister said the Budget was a moment of "personal pride" for him. ... "And so, yes, I am proud. I'm proud we scrap the two child limit. I'm proud we're lifting over half a million children out of poverty. Proud we raise the national minimum wage again. That is what a Labour Government is for, making life better for working families, unlocking their potential and giving our children a fair chance to get on. That is the story of the budget. There were necessary choices."

Speaking to regional broadcasters before the party's annual conference in Liverpool this weekend, Sir Keir said his political project was a '10-year' endeavour and defended the Government's record a year into office in a series of interviews. He said he was 'proud' of what ministers had achieved since their landslide general election victory last summer and refused to 'get drawn into' reports of plots against him. ... "We've got four interest rate cuts in a row, three trade deals that we've struck which other governments couldn't do. So we've made real progress in the first year of a Labour Government," the Prime Minister said. "I accept the challenge that we need to continue, and we need to do more, but there's a considerable amount that has already been achieved and I'm very proud of it."

Mr. Speaker, the Chancellor and I picked up our party 6 years ago from the worst defeat since 1935. ... Mr. Speaker, the test for every Prime Minister is handing over the country in better shape than you found it. I know I can do that. Which is more than can be said for her predecessor, her predecessor's predecessor, and her predecessor's predecessor's predecessor.

Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to give his 'wholehearted support' to prime minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham, as he made his final appearance at the despatch box. ... Sir Keir told the Commons he was "proud to leave this country in a better shape than I found it", as his wife Victoria watched from the chamber alongside their two children.

In his inaugural press conference as Prime Minister, Keir Starmer addressed several challenging issues, including the state of prisons, the staffing shortages in the NHS, and the economy. ... Starmer expressed pride in the fact that his cabinet will comprise the highest number of ministers who are state-educated and female in history.

And after 2 years, we've stabilized the economy, we have invested heavily in our public services, we put better protections in for children particularly on child poverty, we strengthened our defense, and we've enhanced our international reputation. I'm proud to leave this country in a better shape than I found it.

STV News, covering a PMQs exchange with Kemi Badenoch, quotes him: "He added: ‘The test for every prime minister is handing over the country in better shape than you found it. I know I can do that, which is more than can be said for her predecessor (Rishi Sunak), her predecessor’s predecessor (Liz Truss), and her predecessor’s predecessor’s predecessor (Boris Johnson).’"

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that he was leaving the United Kingdom "in better shape than I found it" as he fielded questions, criticism and even a bit of praise from lawmakers in the House of Commons for the last time on Wednesday. ... "Every prime minister knows when they take up the torch that the day will come when they have to pass it on," said Starmer. "This is the end of my political journey," he said.

Sir Keir Starmer told MPs it was the "end of my political journey" and he was "proud of everything I have achieved" at his final Prime Minister's Questions before standing down.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday defended his record in his first parliamentary appearance since announcing his resignation earlier this week, insisting he would leave the country in "better shape" than he found it. ... Starmer told lawmakers he was "handing over the country in 'better shape' than he found it, unlike his Tory predecessors," arguing that his government had restored economic stability and put Britain in a stronger position to navigate global uncertainty.

A news clip of his first PMQs after announcing his resignation records him telling the Commons: "Mr. Speaker, the test for every Prime Minister is handing over the country in better shape than you found it. I know I can do that, which is more than can be said for her predecessor, her predecessor’s predecessor, and her predecessor’s predecessor’s predecessor." This shows him using the "test" formulation in Parliament.{ts:368-380}

Hello. Hello. I am so proud that we leave the country in a much better state than we found it 2 years ago. On the economy, on public services, on protection for children, on defense and security, and on our international reputation in particular. That's the test for any Prime Minister. Do you leave your country in a better place than you found it? And that test and that answer is a yes.

In the first two years this government made really important progress on immigration. And you know, one of the tests of an outgoing Prime Minister is whether you leave the country in a better state than you found it. And I am leaving it in a better state.

London, 15/7 Keir Starmer ended his final Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) session on Wednesday with an emotional farewell at the lower house of the UK Parliament. Starmer said that he was leaving UK "in a better place than he found it", and received standing ovation from the government benches as he ended his speech.

Sir Keir Starmer has said "our work is urgent and we begin it today", as he addressed the nation for the first time after he officially became the prime minister. Speaking in front of Number 10, Sir Keir added that 14 years of Tory rule had led to "weariness in the heart of the nation - a draining away of the hope, the spirit, the belief in a better future."

I have always felt that the most basic responsibility of being Prime Minister is to leave the country in a better place than when you found it. And as I reflect today, not just on two years in this role, but also what I will shortly pass on to my successor, I am proud that my Government achieved that. This may not be flashy, but it absolutely fulfils the criteria of leaving Britain in a better place.

Sir Keir Starmer has said Andy Burnham must lead a "battle for the soul of the nation" while admitting to failings during his time in No 10. ... He said: "I have always felt that the most basic responsibility of being Prime Minister is to leave the country in a better place than when you found it. "And as I reflect today, not just on two years in this role, but also what I will shortly pass on to my successor, I am proud that my Government achieved that."