Keir Starmer: “It speaks to the decent, hopeful country we are proud to be, and on behalf of the whole nation, I want to say thank you.”

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.

I think once you’ve been prime minister, it’s important to answer the question: what are you going to do next? Having decided I’m going to concentrate on international affairs, I think it’s right to step down.

It has been a huge honour and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country and to have taken over from Frank Dobson, who was such a great constituency MP and a member of the last Labour government.

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.