Keir Starmer has been formally appointed as the new Prime Minister by King Charles at Buckingham Palace, following a decisive win in yesterday’s general election.
Buckingham Palace confirmed the appointment with a statement, reports The Guardian.
"The King received in audience the right honourable Sir Keir Starmer MP today and requested him to form a new administration. Sir Keir accepted his majesty’s offer and kissed hands upon his appointment as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury," the statement reads.
It's the first time in his reign that King Charles, 75, has appointed a Prime Minister following a general election, despite ongoing cancer treatment.
Prime Minister Starmer, having left Buckingham Palace, went to Downing Street to assume leadership of His Majesty’s Government.
He is now making a national address from there.
Keir Starmer has opened by paying tribute to Rishi Sunak, saying the “extra effort” he faced as “the first British Asian Prime Minister”. Starmer says “We also recognize the dedication and hard work he brought to his leadership.”
'we will govern country first, party second'
Starmer says “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, returned it to service, and that is how we will govern. Country first, party second”.
The new prime minister says “it is surely clear to everyone that our country needs a bigger reset. A rediscovery of who we are.”
He says “one of the great strengths of this nation has always been our ability to navigate a way to calmer waters. And yet this depends upon politicians, particularly those who stand for stability and moderation as I do, recognising when we must change course.”
Starmer says “for too long now we turned a blind eye as millions slid into greater insecurity.”
He says his government will fight every day to make people believe in them.
He says “from now on you have a government unburdened by doctrine, guided only by the determination to serve your interest.”
The new prime minister says “it is surely clear to everyone that our country needs a bigger reset. A rediscovery of who we are.”
He says “one of the great strengths of this nation has always been our ability to navigate a way to calmer waters. And yet this depends upon politicians, particularly those who stand for stability and moderation as I do, recognising when we must change course.”
Starmer says “for too long now we turned a blind eye as millions slid into greater insecurity.”
He says his government will fight every day to make people believe in them.
He says “from now on you have a government unburdened by doctrine, guided only by the determination to serve your interest.”
He ended his speech by saying his government would “defy quietly those who have written our country off.”
He is the seventh Labour prime minister and won the election with the party returning 412 MPs after having lost the four previous general elections.
