New British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer (Justin Tallis, AFP)
On Friday, Keir Starmer promised to “rebuild Britain” as he took office as the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom following his Labour Party’s landslide general election victory. This victory ended 14 years of Conservative rule.
King Charles III officially appointed Starmer as PM during a meeting at Buckingham Palace. Starmer is the first Labour Prime Minister since Gordon Brown in 2010.
Crowds of cheering Labour supporters lined Downing Street as Starmer arrived. “Now, our country has voted decisively for change, for national renewal, and a return of politics to public service,” Starmer said in his first speech as Prime Minister. “The work of change begins immediately, but have no doubt, we will rebuild Britain.”
Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conceded defeat and apologized to the public. “To the country, I would like to say first and foremost, I am sorry,” Sunak said before heading to Buckingham Palace to resign. He took full responsibility for the loss, adding, “I have heard your anger, your disappointment, and I take responsibility for this loss.”
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Sunak, who took a gamble by calling the election six months early, saw his party suffer a historic defeat. Labour secured 412 seats in the House of Commons, well above the 326 needed for a majority, while the Conservatives won only 121 seats.
Sunak’s departure marks a significant shift in UK politics. He expressed regret over his party’s defeat and praised Starmer, calling him “a decent, public-spirited man who I respect.” Reflecting on his time in office, Sunak said, “One of the most remarkable things about Britain is just how unremarkable it is that two generations after my grandparents came here with little, I could become prime minister. And that I could watch my two young daughters light Diwali candles on the steps in Downing Street. We must hold true to that idea of who we are.”
Labour’s win also saw a boost for the smaller opposition Liberal Democrats, who replaced the Scottish National Party as the third-largest party. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage’s anti-immigration Reform UK party split the right-wing vote, contributing to the Conservative defeat.
World leaders congratulated Starmer, with European Council chief Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressing their support. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the continued alliance between the UK and Ukraine.
Starmer now faces significant challenges, including addressing economic growth, improving public services, and restoring political integrity after years of scandal and instability under Conservative leadership. Despite these challenges, Starmer’s victory marks a new chapter for the UK, promising a return to centrist, service-oriented governance. “We did it. You campaigned for it, you fought for it, you voted for it, and now it has arrived – change begins now,” Starmer told his supporters.