Keir Starmer has officially become the UK prime minister after his party’s landslide victory in the general election this week, having secured at least 412 of the 650 seats in parliament.
After exit polls and early overnight results indicated a clear win for the Labour Party, Starmer visited Buckingham Palace on Friday for a formal meeting with King Charles III, as is customary before the new prime minister assumes office. During his meeting, the King formally invited Starmer to form a new government.
After leaving Buckingham Palace, Starmer made his way to 10 Downing Street, where he addressed the nation for the first time as prime minister.
He expressed his gratitude to his predecessor Rishi Sunak, adding that his achievement of becoming the UK’s first British-Asian prime minister should not be “underestimated by anyone.”
“Now our country has voted decisively for change and a return of politics to public service,” Starmer said, adding that a rift had grown between people and politicians, which has led to “weariness in the heart of the nation.”
Action is therefore needed instead of words, Starmer added, vowing that his government would demonstrate that “politics can be a force for good” and serve all British citizens, whether they voted for his party or not.
He admitted, however, that “changing a country is not like flicking a switch,” and suggested that fixing the UK’s problems “will take a while,” but promised that work would begin immediately on implementing changes.
Starmer concluded his speech by thanking his supporters and stating that his government is committed to a process of “calm and patient rebuilding.” He invited British citizens to join his “government of service” in the mission of “national renewal.”