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London, United Kingdom (UK)
British opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer speaks after winning his seat at Holborn & St Pancras during the UK election in London, Britain, July 5 2024. REUTERS
Starmer, 61, stepped up to make his victory speech in London just hours away from formally becoming the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Keir Starmer vowed to bring change to the nation as the new prime minister after his Labour Party surged to a comprehensive win in a parliamentary election on Friday, ending 14 years of often tumultuous Conservative government.
Starmer, 61, stepped up to make his victory speech in London just hours away from formally becoming the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
“We did it, you campaigned for it, you fought for it, you voted for it and now it has arrived, change begins now,” declared Starmer to a cheering crowd, promising that the work begins right away.
He pledged “national renewal” following 14 years of Conservative rule.
However, Starmer cautioned that having “a mandate like this comes with a great responsibility.” Meanwhile, the country’s first British Indian prime minister comfortably held on to his own Richmond and Northallerton seat in northern England with 23,059 votes but failed to turn things around for his party at a national level.
The centre-left Labour was set to win a massive majority in the 650-seat parliament with Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives poised to suffer the worst performance in the party’s long history as voters punished them for a cost of living crisis, failing public services, and a series of scandals.
Sunak had earlier conceded defeat and said he had called Starmer to congratulate him on his victory.
“Today power will change hands in a peaceful and orderly manner, with goodwill on all sides,” Sunak said after regaining his seat. “There is much to learn and reflect on and I take responsibility for the loss to the many good hardworking Conservative candidates … I am sorry.”
(With inputs from agencies)