Keir Starmer gave his first speech outside Number 10 as the 58th prime minister of the United Kingdom as he told the country the “work of change would begin now”.
After arriving back from his meeting with the King, where he formally accepted the monarch’s invitation to form a Labour government, Starmer told the nation he would rebuild the country.
He said: “Our country has voted decisively for change, for national renewal and return of politics to public service.
"When the gap between the sacrifices made by people and the service they receive from politicians grows this big, it leads to a weariness in the heart of a nation, a draining away of the hope, the spirit, the belief in a better future that we need to move forward together.
“Now, this wound, this lack of trust, can only be healed by actions, not words. I know that, but we can make a start today with the simple acknowledgement that public service is a privilege and that your government should treat every single person in this country with respect.
“If you voted Labour yesterday, we will carry the responsibility of your trust as we rebuild our country. But whether you voted Labour or not, in fact, especially if you did not, I say to you directly, my government will serve you.
“Politics can be a force for good. We will show that we have changed the Labour party, returned it to service, and that is how we will govern - country first, party second.”
Starmer said the UK needed a “bigger reset” and needed to rediscover who it was as a country.
“For too long now, we turned a blind eye as millions slid into greater insecurity - nurses, builders, drivers, carers - people doing the right thing, working harder every day. Recognised at moments like this before, yet, as soon as the cameras stop rolling, their lives are ignored.
“I want to say very clearly to those people, not this time, changing a country is not like flicking a switch. The world is now a more volatile place. This will take a while, but have no doubt that the work of change begins immediately.
“Have no doubt that we will rebuild Britain with wealth created in every community.
"Our NHS back on its feet, facing the future, secure borders, safer streets, everyone treated with dignity and respect at work. The opportunity of clean British power, cutting your energy bills for good and brick by brick, we will rebuild the infrastructure of opportunity. The world class schools and colleges, the affordable homes that I know are the ingredients of hope for working people, the security that working class families like mine can build their lives around.
“Because if I asked you now whether you believe that Britain will be better for your children, I know too many of you would say no, and so my government will fight every day until you believe again,” he added.
