New PM Keir Starmer Names Top Team After Vowing To ‘Rebuild’ UK

Keir Starmer commenced his duties as Britain’s new Prime Minister on Friday, following a decisive victory for his centre-left Labour Party in the general election. This victory ended 14 years of Conservative rule, marking a significant shift in the UK’s political landscape.

Starmer appointed Rachel Reeves as the UK’s first female finance minister and David Lammy as foreign secretary. This marks Labour’s return to power for the first time since Gordon Brown’s tenure ended in 2010.

In a historic moment, Labour supporters gathered in Downing Street to celebrate as Starmer pledged to “rebuild” the UK. This came after King Charles III invited him to form a government during a meeting at Buckingham Palace.

“Now, our country has voted decisively for change, for national renewal and a return of politics to public service,” Starmer declared in his inaugural speech as Prime Minister. “The work of change begins immediately, but have no doubt, we will rebuild Britain.”

Conservative Defeat

Rishi Sunak, the outgoing Prime Minister, conceded defeat after a challenging night for the Conservatives, which saw the loss of at least 12 senior cabinet members, including his predecessor Liz Truss. Truss’s brief 49-day tenure had already damaged the party’s standing with the public due to her unfunded tax cuts that destabilized the markets.

Before leaving Downing Street, Sunak apologized to the public and announced his intention to step down as Tory leader once a successor is chosen.

Labour secured a majority in the 650-seat House of Commons by surpassing the 326-seat threshold at 0400 GMT. By 1700 GMT on Friday, Labour had won 412 seats, giving it a majority of 174. The Conservatives managed to secure only 121 seats, their lowest ever, partly due to the right-wing vote being split by Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, which won five seats.

The Liberal Democrats also made gains, overtaking the Scottish National Party to become the third-largest party.

Global Reactions

The election results defied trends seen in other Western nations, where far-right movements are gaining traction. European leaders, including Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz, congratulated Starmer, expressing confidence in his leadership. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky affirmed the continued alliance between the UK and Ukraine.

Former US President Donald Trump congratulated Nigel Farage on his parliamentary win but did not mention Starmer.

Conservative Party’s Future

Sunak resigned shortly after returning to London, acknowledging the scale of the Conservative defeat. The party’s previous worst result was 156 seats in 1906. Former leader William Hague described the outcome as “catastrophic,” while political analyst Tim Bale suggested it was not as disastrous as some had predicted.

Nigel Farage has expressed his intention to fill the gap in the centre-right of British politics, following his victory in Clacton.

Labour’s Challenges Ahead

Labour’s resurgence is remarkable, especially considering the party’s poor performance under former leader Jeremy Corbyn in 2019. Starmer, who took over in early 2020, has worked to move the party back to the centre and address internal issues such as infighting and anti-Semitism.

Despite opinion polls consistently showing Labour 20 points ahead of the Conservatives since Truss’s resignation, the final vote count showed a narrower gap of around 11 percent, partly due to lower voter turnout.

Starmer faces significant challenges, including slow economic growth, underfunded public services, and financial pressures on households. He has promised to restore political integrity after a turbulent period marked by five Conservative Prime Ministers in 14 years.

Summary

• Keir Starmer becomes the new UK Prime Minister after Labour’s landslide victory.
• Rachel Reeves appointed as the first female finance minister; David Lammy as foreign secretary.
• Labour ends 14 years of Conservative rule, first Labour PM since Gordon Brown in 2010.
• Rishi Sunak concedes defeat; Conservatives suffer historic losses.
• Labour secures 412 seats; Conservatives win only 121 seats.
• Global leaders congratulate Starmer; Trump congratulates Farage but omits Starmer.
• Labour faces significant challenges, including economic growth and public service funding.
• Starmer promises to restore political integrity and rebuild the UK.