LONDON: New Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain needed to rediscover
its identity and undergo a wider reset, in his first words outside his new office at
10 Downing Street, promising to fight to restore trust in politics and serve all
voters.
Greeted in Downing Street by a large crowd of cheering aides and supporters after
formally accepting the King’s invitation to become prime minister, Starmer’s first
address made the case for a moderate politics to repair voters’ broken trust.
“It is surely clear to everyone that our country needs a bigger reset, a rediscovery
of who we are, because no matter how fierce the storms of history, one of the
greatest strengths of this nation has always been our ability to navigate a way to
calmer waters,” he said.
“This depends upon politicians, particularly those who stand for stability and
moderation, as I do.”
He added: “My government will fight every day until you believe again. From
now on, you have a government unburdened by doctrine, guided only by the
determination to serve your interest. To defy those quietly those who have written
our country off.”
“You have given us a clear mandate, And we will use it to deliver change.”
Earlier, King Charles III officially appointed Starmer as prime minister at
Buckingham Palace.
A photograph released by the palace showed the monarch shaking hands with
Starmer, whose party won a landslide election victory.
“The king received in Audience The Right Honourable Sir Keir Starmer MP today
and requested him to form a new administration,” a palace statement read.
“Sir Keir accepted his majesty’s offer and kissed hands upon his appointment as
prime minister and first lord of the Treasury.”
Starmer vowed to bring change to Britain as its next prime minister after his
Labour Party surged to a comprehensive win in a parliamentary election, ending
14 years of often tumultuous Conservative government.
The centre-left Labour was set to win a massive majority in the 650-seat
parliament with Sunak’s Conservatives poised to suffer the worst performance in
the party’s long history as voters punished them for a cost of living crisis, failing
public services, and a series of scandals.
“Change begins now,” Starmer said in a victory speech.
“We said we would end the chaos, and we will, we said we would turn the page,
and we have. Today, we start the next chapter, begin the work of change, the
mission of national renewal and start to rebuild our country.
“Tonight, people here and around the country have spoken and they’re ready for
change, to end the politics of performance, a return to politics as public service,”
Starmer said after winning his seat in London.
“The change begins right here … You have voted. It is now time for us to deliver.”