Keir Starmer sends message to Rishi Sunak in first speech as prime minister outside 10 Downing Street

The Independent

Keir Starmer made his first speech as prime minister after a Labour landslide win.Source: Reuters

Transcript

00:00I have just returned from Buckingham Palace, where I accepted an invitation from His Majesty

00:07the King to form the next government of this great nation.

00:19I want to thank the outgoing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

00:23This achievement as the first British Asian Prime Minister of our country, the extra effort

00:31that that will have required, should not be underestimated by anyone.

00:38We pay tribute to that today.

00:42And we also recognise the dedication and hard work he brought to his leadership.

00:50But now our country has voted decisively for change, for national renewal and a return

00:59of politics to public service.

01:04When the gap between the sacrifices made by people and the service they receive from politicians

01:12grows this big, it leads to a weariness in the heart of a nation.

01:19A draining away of the hope, the spirit, the belief in a better future.

01:28That we need to move forward together.

01:33Now this wound, this lack of trust, can only be healed by actions, not words.

01:44I know that.

01:46But we can make a start today with the simple acknowledgement that public service is a privilege

01:54and that your government should treat every single person in this country with respect.

02:04If you voted Labour yesterday, we will carry the responsibility of your trust as we rebuild

02:11our country.

02:13But whether you voted Labour or not, in fact, especially if you did not, I say to you directly,

02:24my government will serve you.

02:29Politics can be a force for good.

02:32We will show that.

02:34We've changed the Labour Party, returned it to service and that is how we will govern.

02:41Party first, party second.

02:44Yet if I'm honest, service is merely a precondition of hope and it is surely clear to everyone

02:53that our country needs a bigger reset, a rediscovery of who we are because no matter how fierce

03:02the storms of history, one of the great strengths of this nation has always been our ability

03:09to navigate a way to calmer waters.

03:14And yet this depends upon politicians, particularly those who stand for stability and moderation,

03:23as I do, recognising when we must change course.

03:28For too long now, we've turned a blind eye as millions slid into greater insecurity.

03:35Nurses, builders, drivers, carers, people doing the right thing, working harder every

03:41day, recognised at moments like this before, yet as soon as the cameras stop rolling, their

03:51lives are ignored.

03:54I want to say very clearly to those people, not this time.

04:02Building a country is not like flicking a switch.

04:04The world is now a more volatile place.

04:08This will take a while.

04:11But have no doubt that the work of change begins immediately.

04:16Have no doubt that we will rebuild Britain with wealth created in every community, our

04:24NHS back on its feet facing the future, secure borders, safer streets, everyone treated with

04:31dignity and respect at work, the opportunity of clean British power cutting your energy

04:38bills for good.

04:41And brick by brick, we will rebuild the infrastructure of opportunity, the world-class schools and

04:49colleges, the affordable homes that I know are the ingredients of hope for working people,

04:57the security that working-class families like mine can build their lives around.

05:05Because if I asked you now whether you believe that Britain will be better for your children,

05:14I know too many of you would say no.

05:20And so my government will fight every day until you believe again.

05:25From now on, you have a government unburdened by doctrine, guided only by the determination

05:32to serve your interest, to defy, quietly, those who have written our country off.

05:41You have given us a clear mandate, and we will use it to deliver change, to restore

05:47service and respect to politics, end the era of noisy performance, tread more lightly on

05:54your lives, and unite our country, four nations standing together again, facing down, as we

06:05have so often in our past, the challenges of an insecure world, committed to a calm

06:14and patient rebuilding.

06:16So with respect and humility, I invite you all to join this government of service in

06:27the mission of national renewal.

06:31Our work is urgent, and we begin it today.

06:36Thank you very much.

06:37Thank you.

06:38Thank you.

Category

Transcript

Recommended