Sir Keir Starmer triumphantly entered Downing Street yesterday, signalling a new era in politics and promising to fix Britain's problems "with respect and humility". The Labour leader returned his party to power after 14 years in the wilderness with one of the biggest majorities in history - 176 seats.
After meeting the King, he stood on the steps of No 10 and declared: "Our country has voted decisively for change, for national renewal and a return of politics to public service. Our work is urgent and we begin it today." Labour won 412 seats, while the Tories suffered their worst result in history with just 121. Rishi Sunak announced he would quit as Tory leader and used his final speech in Downing Street to apologise to the British people and the Conservative Party.
But Sir Keir was only too aware that despite his huge majority, Labour only received 34 per cent of the vote in an election with a low turnout of 60 per cent. His party received fewer votes than when it was defeated under Jeremy Corbyn in 2019.
Labour was also helped by the rise of Nigel Farage's Reform UK, which split the vote on the right, earning 15 per cent of the vote and five seats. Sir Keir made it clear that his mission was to help those who "have been ignored" for too long. "Nurses, builders, drivers, carers, people doing the right thing, working harder than ever, have been recognised at moments like this before. Yet as soon as the cameras stop rolling, their lives are ignored," he said.
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