Sir Keir Starmer has delivered a triumphant first speech as Prime Minister of the UK as he vowed to put the ‘country first, party second’ under the new Labour government.
Arriving hand in hand with his wife Victoria, the new Prime Minister beamed as he greeted supporters who had been waiting for their arrival at Downing Street.
As he took to the stand to address the nation, Sir Keir vowed to put the “country first, party second” and start work to deliver change “immediately”.
Sir Keir said: “We need to move forward together. Now this wound, this lack of trust can only be healed by actions, not words, I know that. But we can make a start today with the simple acknowledgement that public service is a privilege and that your government should treat every single person in this country with respect.”
He also made a direct appeal to those who did not vote Labour in Thursday’s election, as he added: “We will carry the responsibility of your trust as we rebuild our country. But whether you voted Labour or not, in fact especially if you did not, I say to you directly my government will serve you. Politics can be a force for good, we will show that. We’ve changed the Labour party.”
“The work of change begins immediately. We will rebuild Britain”.
The Prime Minister also said he would “fight every day” to prove his government is one that the country can believe in again.
He said: “If I asked you now whether you believe that Britain will be better for your children, I know too many of you would say no.
“So, 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 quietly those who have written our country off.”
He continued “And we will use it to deliver change, to restore service and respect for politics, end the era of noisy performance, tread more lightly on your lives and unite our country.
“Four nations standing together again facing down, as we have so often in our past, the challenges of an insecure world, committed to a calm and patient rebuilding.
“So, with respect and humility, I invite you all to join this Government of serfvice in the mission of national renewal.
“Our work is urgent and we begin it today.”
However, he added that the changing the country would not be “like flicking a switch”, adding that change would “take a while”.
Before his speech, Sir Keir visited Buckingham Palace with his wife Victoria to meet with King Charles where he was formally asked to form a government and was officially appointed as the UK’s prime minister.
It comes after Sir Keir declared “we did it” as Labour swept to power following the General Election, as senior Tories including Liz Truss and Jacob Rees-Mogg lost their seats.
Speaking in central London, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “We did it. You campaigned for it, you fought for it, you voted for it, and now it has arrived: change begins now.
“It feels good, I have to be honest. Four and a half years of work changing the party, this is is what it is for: a changed Labour Party ready to serve our country, ready to restore Britain to the service of working people.
“And across our country, people will be waking up to the news, relief that a weight has been lifted, a burden finally removed from the shoulders of this great nation.
“And now we can look forward, walk into the morning, the sunlight of hope, pale at first but getting stronger through the day, shining once again, on a country with the opportunity after 14 years to get its future back.”
Sir Keir continued: “There’s nothing preordained in politics,”
“Election wins don’t fall from the sky – they are hard won, and hard fought for.
“This one could only be won by a changed Labour Party
