Former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has signed off from Downing Street with a farewell video that many say looked more like a fan edit than a political send-off. Uploaded to his verified TikTok account shortly after officially leaving office, the video was set to Charlie Puth and Wiz Khalifa’s emotional hit See You Again and opened with a scene from Fast & Furious, with Starmer’s face edited onto one of the characters before transitioning into a montage of moments from his time as Prime Minister.

The clips showed him meeting members of the armed forces, travelling by helicopter and train, and interacting with families during official engagements. He simply captioned the post: “It’s been a privilege to serve.” 

While farewell videos from departing politicians are nothing new, it was the editing style that quickly grabbed social media’s attention. Many users admitted they were caught off guard by what looked like a polished TikTok edit, with some joking that it was one of the most unexpected posts to come from someone who had been leading the country just hours earlier.

The reactions were filled with humour, with users saying the video was proof that “the country is unserious,” while others joked that whoever edited the montage deserved a hefty payday. Many also questioned whether the post was real before confirming it had indeed been uploaded by Starmer’s official account. 

Starmer’s social media farewell came after he officially stepped down as Prime Minister on 20 July, handing over power to Andy Burnham after two years in office. His resignation followed weeks of mounting pressure within the Labour Party after disappointing election results, despite having led Labour to a landslide general election victory in 2024 after rebuilding the party following its 2019 defeat. 

In his final speech outside Downing Street, Starmer reflected on what he described as the “privilege” of serving the country, highlighting achievements including economic improvements, reduced NHS waiting times, lower immigration levels and increased investment in defence. He also wished his successor well, saying Burnham had his “full support” as he passed on the baton. 

Whether viewers found the edit heartfelt, hilarious or just completely unexpected, one thing is certain: it is not every day that a departing Prime Minister leaves office with what many are calling a TikTok-worthy farewell montage.

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