Chancellor Rachel Reeves appeared moved to tears as Sir Keir Starmer took part his final Prime Minister’s Questions.
Sir Keir heard emotional tributes and faced jokes at his expense in his final outing from the dispatch box on Wednesday before Andy Burnham is set to become the new Labour leader.
The Prime Minister received a standing ovation and applause from hundreds of MPs.
Ms Reeves, who is set to be replaced as Chancellor when Mr Burnham enters Number 10, was visibly emotional.
Veteran Conservative MP Graham Stuart began the questioning by linking the PM’s departure to the England football team, joking that “400 dodgy referees” had show him a “red card”.
He said: "Most of us, Mr Speaker, can only dream of playing the role of Jude Bellingham, scoring the winning goal, leading our team to victory.
"Yet the Prime Minister did it. But politics, like football, is a ruthless game, and he's now been handed a red card by the 400 dodgy referees behind him.
"What advice does this Prime Minister have for the right honourable member for Makerfield [Mr Burnham] to ensure that he, unlike himself, doesn't end up with an early bath?"
Sir Keir replied: "I think that's the first and sadly, probably the last time, I'll be compared to Jude Bellingham. But I will I thank him for that.”
He declined to take a swipe at Mr Burnham, who was not in the Commons on Wednesday.
"And on the question of red cards, I can't tell him how much incoming I had a week ago Monday, after President Trump intervened for their red card, for me to get the England red card adjusted,” Sir Keir added.
"Just for the record, Mr Speaker, I didn't. But for my successor and for the England team, I won't give advice.
"I will simply give my wholehearted support."
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch had said she “admired” how the Prime Minister had invited Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to Downing Street after his confrontation with Donald Trump and other senior members of his administration.
Sir Keir said: “On that meeting with President Zelensky, the day after he was evicted from the Oval Office, he left alone, he got a plane, we got him to come to London, and I asked him to come to Downing Street straight away.
“I walked out to meet him, I gave him a hug, and then I showed him what was in the street which was many people who had come, thinking that he was visiting Downing Street, and the moment he got out the car and hugged me, they cheered from the top of their voices, the British people, to tell President Zelensky exactly what they thought of him and the way he had been treated, and that was a really emotional moment, because it was the first human contact he had effectively had outside of his immediate team since he left the Oval Office.”
Sir Keir thanked his team and said “I love you” to his wife Victoria and children, who were watching in the rear gallery in the House of Commons.
Lady Starmer could be seen wiping her eyes as he spoke.
Responding to a tearful question from Labour MP Carolyn Harris who thanked him and his family for their “friendship”, Sir Keir replied: “Can I thank her question, for her support and friendship to me, to Vic, and to the kids.
“Whatever the challenge, she has always been there for us, particularly Vic and the kids, and I really thank her for that.”
He continued: “Every Prime Minister knows when they take up the torch that the day will come when they have to pass it on. That day has come for me. This is the end of my political journey.
“In six years, went from historic defeat in 2019 to historic victory in 2024, and in two years in Government, I leave the country in better shape than I found it.”
He thanked Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, fellow MPs and the Civil Service, and paid tribute to his team who had been “prepared to walk through fire” for him.
He ended: “To all those in the gallery whose lives have been changed or improved by this Labour Government, and all across the country who struggle to be seen or heard, you’re the reason I came into politics.
“To my wife and children, I love you. Goodbye.”
He received a standing ovation by the majority of the Commons, although the Conservative bench remained seated and did not applaud.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle also paid tribute to outgoing Prime Minister.
Sir Lindsay thanked him “for his public service, his international leadership, particularly in his steadfast support for Ukraine”. He added: “I am sure members will wish to join me in wishing him and his family well in the future.”
Sir Keir received a big cheer as he entered the chamber on Wednesday. His wife Lady Starmer watched on from the Commons’ gallery with their two children.
