LONDON: The British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday pledged that his Labour government will work on national renewal from day one.
In his first speech as UK prime minister from Downing Street, he said, “the work of change begins immediately. But have no doubt, we will rebuild Britain.”
King Charles formally appointed Sir Keir as the prime minister at Buckingham Palace replacing Conservative leader Rishi Sunak. Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, Sunak vowed to remain his party’s leader until formal arrangements are made for selecting his successor.
Earlier, Sunak during his farewell speech apologised to unsuccessful Conservative candidates and told the public: “I have heard your anger, your disappointment.” Sir Keir has started appointing his new cabinet before it meets for the first time on Saturday.
Labour has won 410 seats, with the Conservatives ending with 118. After winning his seat in Holborn and St Pancras, Keir Starmer said “the change begins right here and it is time for us to deliver”. Sir Keir’s party, suffered its worst defeat in 2019. Sir Keir ran a cautious campaign in which Labour made very few new policy commitments, but managed to largely retain the large polling lead over the Tories.
Labour loses number of former strongholds
Despite its resounding victory overall, Labour lost a number of former strongholds to independent candidates campaigning on pro-Gaza forums. In one of the biggest shocks, shadow minister Jonathan Ashworth lost his Leicester South seat. Shadow culture secretary Thangam Debbonaire also lost in Bristol Central to the Greens.
Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting – one of Labour’s most high-profile figures during the campaign also lost his seat. Labour during its campaign pledged to boost the UK’s sluggish rate of economic growth in recent years.
It vowed to do this largely through changes to the planning system, and by making Britain more attractive to inward investment.
The party has also promised to overhaul the employment law of the UK, renationalise nearly all passenger rail and establish a state-owned energy investment and generation company, along with promoting green investment.
