In victory speech, Starmer pledges to rebuild Britain

London, July 5

Britain’s new PM Keir Starmer pledged on Friday to use his massive electoral majority to rebuild the country, saying he wanted to take the heat out of politics after years of upheaval and strife.

Standing outside his new office and residence at Number 10 Downing Street, Starmer acknowledged the scale of the challenge after his party’s landslide victory in a parliamentary election ended 14 years of often tumultuous Conservative government.

He warned that any improvements would take time, and he would need to first rebuild faith in politics. “This lack of trust can only be healed by actions, not words. I know that,” he said.

Take responsibility for this loss

Yours is the only judgment that matters. I have heard your anger, I take responsibility for this loss… I will step down as party leader, not immediately, but once the formal arrangements for selecting my successor are in place. —Rishi Sunak, Ex-British Prime Minister

“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.”

Starmer was greeted by huge cheers and took time before making his speech to shake hands with and hug aides and well-wishers who lined Downing Street —scenes that were reminiscent of Tony Blair’s arrival in government in 1997.

He said he would fight every day to rebuild trust.

Sunak quits with call for kindness, tolerance

Rishi Sunak said on Friday resigned as prime minister after losing heavily to Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, leaving with an apology, a tribute to Britain, and a call to protect “kindness, decency and tolerance”. — Reuters

David Lammy new foreign minister

LONDON: PM Keir Starmer on Friday appointed David Lammy as Britain’s new foreign minister and John Healey the defence minister, while Yvette Cooper was named interior minister. Starmer also appointed Rachel Reeves as finance minister, or Chancellor of the Exchequer, making her the first woman to hold the role. Reuters