Keir's on the beers! Starmer is seen at the pub with a pint in hand after resigning as PM

By PATRICK HARRINGTON, UK NEWS REPORTER Published: 02:03, 21 July 2026 | Updated: 02:09, 21 July 2026 Sir Keir Starmer shot to the pub after stepping down as Prime Minister earlier on Monday. He gathered his closest colleagues along with friends and family for some commiseration drinks at a local watering hole in Kentish Town. The toppled leader was seen clutching a pint of cloudy brown ale as he chatted on the phone, while sacked Chancellor Rachel Reeves giggled between gulps of white wine. Younger aides holding vapes milled around between the ousted Labour MPs. At another moment, Starmer struck a relaxed pose leaning on a door frame with a hand on his hip and shirt sleeves rolled up. Ms Reeves grinned as she put back her drinks in the warm weather outside, a pair of sunglasses balanced in her hair. Starmer's farewell do came just hours after he handed the keys of No10 to Andy Burnham. He delivered a short speech in Downing Street, this time without the tears, before travelling to Buckingham Palace to offer his official resignation to King Charles. Sir Keir hugged then-Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who was among the crowd gathered outside No10 During his farewell speech, Sir Keir declared 'my work is done' and insisted that the country is 'stronger' than it was before he became PM Keir Starmer's resignation as Prime Minister was accepted by the King at an audience in Buckingham Palace The crestfallen PM said his two years in the job had been the 'privelege of my life' and that he left 'with good grace and a smile'. He claimed to have left the country in a better state than he found it, and declared: 'My work is done.' Starmer insisted Andy Burnham – who orchestrated a coup to secure the leadership – would have his 'full support' as his replacement.  Close Cabinet allies including David Lammy and Rachel Reeves had gathered with hundreds of aides in a sunny Downing Street to watch Sir Keir say goodbye. London mayor Sadiq Khan was also present for the emotional moment. Buckingham Palace confirmed shortly afterwards that Sir Keir had officially resigned after 745 days as PM, leaving a vacancy that was immediately filled by Mr Burnham. The former Greater Manchester mayor became the seventh PM in just a decade after his own audience with the King at lunchtime. In his valedictory statement, Sir Keir said: 'I am about to visit His Majesty The King to offer my resignation and close the book on my time as Prime Minister. 'My work is done. In six and a half years, I took our party from a historic defeat in 2019, changed it so it was fit to face the country and won a landslide general election victory in 2024. 'Since then, it has been the privilege of my life to serve you and this great country as Prime Minister, and I am confident that Britain is now stronger and fairer than it was two years ago. 'Our economy is stronger. Our public services are on the up, with the biggest fall in waiting times for 17 years. Children are being lifted out of poverty every single day. 'Immigration is down significantly. Our defence and security are on a far stronger footing and our international reputation is greatly enhanced. 'Yet the thing I will always take away with me, the most humbling aspect of this job, is the front row seat you get to witness the greatest things of this country in action. To see, every day, immeasurable acts of resolve, grit, decency and compassion. 'From people who serve our country, whether that's in their regimental colours, NHS scrubs, or simply the millions of people in their communities who volunteer their time and their effort to the ground beneath their feet.'