British leader Starmer faces his last question session in Parliament before leaving office next week

LONDON (AP) 鈥� British Prime Minister will answer questions from lawmakers in the House of Commons for the last time Wednesday before he .

At noon, Starmer will bid farewell to the boisterous weekly sessions where he has traded barbs with opposition politicians and defended his government鈥檚 record. Then, on Monday, he will step down after just two years in office, handing over power to a new Labour Party leader, .

Britain鈥檚 parliamentary democracy allows governing parties to change leaders, and thus prime ministers, without the need for a general election. The next national election does not have to be held until 2029.

Starmer was in July 2024, but is quitting after in office marred by missteps and judgment errors that eroded his standing with his party and the public.

He struggled to deliver promised economic growth, repair and ease the cost of living. And he was hamstrung by , including his decision to appoint , a scandal-tarnished friend of Jeffrey Epstein, as U.K. ambassador to the United States.

After Labour was hammered in , he gave in to mounting pressure from the party and announced he would step down. Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, is the only candidate in the contest to replace him and will be announced as the new Labour leader on Friday.

On Monday, Starmer will go to Buckingham Palace and announce his resignation as prime minister to King Charles III, who will then ask Burnham to take over.

At Prime Minister鈥檚 Questions, Starmer will likely tout his government鈥檚 domestic policy achievements, including stronger protections for renters, a and a law designed to after tragedies. He’ll also likely touch on his role on the world stage supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia and restoring relations between Britain and its European Union neighbors after Brexit.

On Tuesday, he attended Bastille Day celebrations in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron, who awarded him the Legion of Honor in recognition of his work with France on European security.

Back in London, Starmer held a reception in the garden of the prime minister鈥檚 10 Downing St. residence to thank people who had campaigned for accountability from the authorities after losing loved ones to violence.

鈥淚 leave on Monday with good grace,鈥� he told them. 鈥淚鈥檓 very pleased I鈥檝e had the privilege of being prime minister. I鈥檓 pleased to have delivered on the promises that are made to many people in this garden. And I鈥檒l make this last promise, which is I will stand with you and walk with you, as long as I鈥檝e got breath in my body.鈥�

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