Sir Keir Starmer has been elected as the United Kingdom’s first Labour prime minister since 2010, following a decisive victory that saw his party win a substantial parliamentary majority.
Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, He committed to establishing a “government of service,” with the goal of restoring public trust in politics and steering the country towards stability.
Addressing those who did not vote for Labour, Starmer promised to prioritize the country over party ideology and to govern with a focus on unity. The atmosphere outside the Prime Minister’s residence was celebratory, with supporters waving Union Jacks and the flags of Scotland and Wales. Starmer and his wife, Victoria, shared emotional moments with friends and colleagues who gathered to applaud them.
Starmer, who officially replaced Conservative leader Rishi Sunak after meeting with the King at Buckingham Palace, has begun forming his new cabinet, which is set to meet for the first time on Saturday. Despite Labour’s impressive majority of 174 seats, Starmer warned that the task of “rebuilding” Britain would be gradual.
Earlier, in a farewell address, Sunak expressed his regrets to the unsuccessful Conservative candidates and acknowledged the public’s dissatisfaction. He vowed to remain as party leader until a successor is chosen. This election marked a significant reversal of fortunes for Labour, which had only secured 203 seats under Jeremy Corbyn in 2019, its worst performance since 1935.
Smaller parties also had a successful night. The Liberal Democrats achieved their best result in a century with 71 seats, while Nigel Farage’s Reform UK secured five seats, marking a breakthrough for the new party.
Story by : Zenas Fiagbe
Source : BBC News, Sky News
