The Mirror’s political correspondent Dave Burke writes in..
It really doesn’t feel that long since Keir Starmer’s first PMQs session on July 24, 2024.
On that day Mr Starmer buoyantly bounded into the chamber with hundreds of new Labour MPs behind him, fresh from a landslide he said would trigger a ‘decade of national renewal’. In contrast rows of grim-faced Tories sat opposite, with Rishi Sunak still at the helm while a seemingly-endless leadership race went on around him.
At the time things looked so rosy – Mr Starmer opened by pledging to get on with the work needed to change the country, and his bruised opponent had little choice but to joke about the scale of the defeat he had just suffered.
In those early weeks none of us imagined we would end up where we are now within two years.
But today the PM will bid farewell to the chamber after a tumultous two years in charge. Whether this afternoon’s session is as good-natured as the first remains to be seen. Even Mr Starmer’s harshest critics won’t want to see him given an unnecessary or vindictive kicking.
We can expect – rightly – that Mr Starmer will want to focus on his achievements, not least the breakthrough on the Hillsborough Law after months of deadlock. That was a big promise made before the general election, and the PM will take comfort knowing he got that through the Commons in his last week.
The tragic killing of Ann Widdecombe will hang heavy over the chamber, and we can expect him to share words of support with the Reform spokeswoman’s family and friends. He will be hoping to bow out after seeing Parliament at its best.
Andy Burnham is not expected to be in the Commons for PMQs today. For one last time it’ll be Mr Starmer’s moment before the make-or-break reset unfolds over the summer.
