Keir's on the beers! Ousted PM is seen at the pub with Rachel Reeves after leaving No10 - while aides don 'Sparkle with Starmer' T-shirts for farewell drinks

By GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT and PATRICK HARRINGTON, UK NEWS REPORTER Published: 17:39, 21 July 2026 | Updated: 17:41, 21 July 2026 Keir Starmer headed straight to his local pub after stepping down as prime minister yesterday as he enjoyed a drink with his closest allies. The ousted leader gathered his former colleagues, including Rachel Reeves, at a watering hole in Kentish Town, north London, after making way for Andy Burnham. Sir Keir was pictured clutching a pint of cloudy brown ale as he chatted on the phone while Ms Reeves, who was sacked as Chancellor by Mr Burnham, giggled between gulps of white wine. Aides of Sir Keir and Ms Reeves were seen drinking and holding vapes as they milled around the two deposed politicians. Some even sported T-shirts paying tribute to the ex-PM, with one white garment emblazoned with the slogan: 'Sparkle with Starmer'.  At another moment, Sir Keir 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 relaxed in the warm weather outside, a pair of sunglasses balanced in her hair. Sir Keir's farewell drinks came just hours after he formally handed over power to Mr Burnham. Keir Starmer headed straight to his local pub after stepping down as prime minister yesterday as he enjoyed a drink with his closest allies The ousted leader gathered his former colleagues, including Rachel Reeves, at a watering hole in Kentish Town, north London, after making way for Andy Burnham A collection of 'Sparkle with Starmer' T-shirts, costing £20 each, were sold by Labour in 2023 following that year's party conference when Sir Keir was showered in glitter by a protester during his keynote speech. In emails circulated by Labour less than 24 hours after the incident, the novelty T-shirt was described as 'exclusive, limited edition merchandise' after the speech's 'glittering reception'.  Sir Keir delivered a short speech in Downing Street on Monday morning – this time without tears – before travelling to Buckingham Palace to offer his official resignation to the King. The crestfallen PM said his two years in the job had been the 'privilege' of his 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.' Sir Keir insisted Mr Burnham – who orchestrated a coup to secure the Labour leadership – would have his 'full support' as his replacement.  Close Cabinet allies including Ms Reeves and David Lammy, now sacked as Deputy PM, had gathered with hundreds of aides in a sunny Downing Street to watch Sir Keir say goodbye. London mayor Sadiq Khan, who has recently been handed a peerage by Sir Keir, 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. Aides of Sir Keir and Ms Reeves were seen drinking and holding vapes as they milled around the two deposed politicians Some even sported T-shirts paying tribute to the ex-PM, with one white garment emblazoned with the slogan: 'Sparkle with Starmer' Mr Burnham, the former Greater Manchester mayor, became the seventh PM in just a decade after his own audience with the King at lunchtime on Monday. In his valedictory statement in Downing Street, Sir Keir said: '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.'