Prime Minister Keir Starmer was given a silver carriage clock and bottles of wine by his Cabinet in his final meeting before Andy Burnham assumes office. The gift followed a whipround organized by Deputy PM David Lammy and coincided with tributes lauding Starmer as a 'giant of the Labour movement,' despite his ouster just two years into a five-year term after electoral losses and internal pressure.
Cabinet ministers presented outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer with a silver carriage clock, dating from around 1920 and crafted by Dent London, along with two bottles of wine during his final Cabinet meeting in Downing Street on Wednesday morning.
The clock bears an engraved plaque reading: "Change promised, change fought for, change delivered. Thank you Keir - The Cabinet.
" The gift was funded through a whipround organized by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, though the donation webpage was briefly and unintentionally public, causing some embarrassment. The wine selection included a bottle of English sparkling wine served during the French state visit last summer and a bottle of pinot grigio.
At the meeting, Lammy delivered an effusive tribute, describing Starmer as a "giant of the Labour movement" for placing national interest above partisan concerns, his extraordinary work ethic, and his resilience amid a harsh political climate. Starmer received a standing ovation from his cabinet. Starmer's departure follows intense pressure from Cabinet members who privately urged him to announce a departure timetable before his tearful resignation statement on June 22.
His ouster comes just two years after Labour's landslide victory in the 2024 general election, precipitated by the party's poor performance in local elections across Scotland, Wales, and England in May, as well as Andy Burnham's successful political maneuvering after winning the Makerfield by-election. Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, is set to replace Starmer as Prime Minister on Monday.
During his final Cabinet meeting, Starmer also acknowledged the death of former Tory minister and Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe, noting broader concerns about politician safety. He outlined his government's achievements, including economic progress, NHS improvements, child poverty initiatives, and a revitalized international stance through EU reset, leadership in the Coalition of the Willing, and involvement in the Strait of Hormuz. Starmer expressed gratitude to his team and spoke optimistically about the remaining three years of the parliamentary term.
The gifting of a carriage clock-a traditional symbol of time and legacy-carries a poignant irony given that ministers had earlier signaled his exit with the phrase "Time's up.
" Dent London, the maker, is renowned for constructing the Great Clock of Westminster. The incident of the public donation page drew media attention, highlighting internal disarray even as colleagues publicly praised Starmer. Despite the celebratory tone of the send-off, the circumstances underscored the volatile nature of contemporary politics, where a leader with a historic majority can be ousted swiftly after electoral setbacks.
The transition to Burnham's leadership marks a significant shift for Labour, coming after internal coups and regional losses. Starmer's final Prime Minister's Questions preceded the handover, closing a tumultuous chapter for a government that had promised substantial change but fell short of sustaining its initial momentum across a full term
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