Can Keir Starmer change things for the better?
What should it be otherwise in the UK, after 14 years of constant Tory governments in London come to an end, it pours in streams. The hope of many Britons is not affected: Can Labour Premier Keir Starmer deliver on his promises?
It's a good day in the United Kingdom - even if the weather hasn't caught up yet, it's been pouring since early morning hours. The day, on which the country starts a new era, feels more like a gray November morning. But we wouldn't be in Great Britain if the weather could spoil our joy. And the joy is enormous - at least for the Labour Party.
"Now we can look forward, towards the morning. The sunshine of hope, faint at first but growing stronger with each passing day, is shining on a country that has the chance to take back its future after 14 years." The words of the newly elected Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer may seem a little pathetic - especially against the backdrop that Labour won a historic victory but had few votes to distribute. The voter turnout for these parliamentary elections was significantly low: only around 60 percent of Britons went to the polling stations, the lowest since nearly a quarter of a century.
The Brexit faces were rejected
If you ask the Britons themselves, their hope sounds a bit different than Sir Keir's: "It can't get any worse." And that was the point of this election. How nice that sounds? Great Britain is a conservative country that occasionally also votes Labour. Since the founding of the Labour Party in 1900, there have only been eight Labour governments, but 20 conservative. That doesn't mean it can't change sometime, but this election clearly shows that the country wanted to give the Tories a wake-up call.
And they are feeling it dearly. Penny Mordaunt, Chair of Parliament: rejected. Jacob Rees-Mogg, one of the Brexit faces in general: rejected. Liz Truss, former Prime Minister: rejected. It seems the weather is reflecting the moods of the Tories. But they try to see the positive from the outside: That Labour has rebuilt itself within five years and recovered from the big defeat against Boris Johnson in 2019 means that it can also go wrong for the Tories, says a party member. And that's why it's a good day for the United Kingdom.
Even five years ago, no one would have thought that Labour would win with such a large majority today. The party, back then under Jeremy Corbyn, was split, divided and seemed angry with itself. There was a series of antisemitism allegations, especially against Corbyn, and even long-standing Labour voters in the country thought: This party is unelectable. Keir Starmer has changed that. At his first Labour Party conference as Labour leader, he was jeered by Corbyn supporters. Today, he was embraced, kissed, and cheered by his party colleagues in front of 10 Downing Street.
Farage sets himself up for a big throw
Nigel Farage, the Brexit Party leader, is positioning himself for a big move. After the Labour Party's historic victory, the Brexit Party, which had previously been a major force in British politics, has lost almost all of its seats. Farage, however, is not giving up and is already announcing a new project. He wants to continue to be a significant player in British politics and is planning to form a new right-wing party. The name is still unknown, but one thing is clear: Farage is not going away.
Absolute winners emerge in this election but the smaller parties still come out. Nigel Farage, the right-wing populist, managed to get his Reform UK party into parliament after seven failed attempts. The Liberal Democrats have the largest number of MPs in parliament since the beginning of the 20th century with over 70 seats. Remarkably, more people voted for Reform UK than for the Liberals, yet they only gained four seats. This is due to the First Past the Post electoral system, which rewards only those who receive the most votes in their constituency. "Undemocratic", some say, but "it is what it is", as it keeps candidates like Nigel Farage in check.
And yet, there is concern that he might do better in the next election - that is his plan. Here comes a fact that the Conservatives certainly don't want to hear: What Labour has achieved in the past five years will not be easy for them to replicate. The party is too fragmented and powerless, with too few options for a leader who can bring them back together. The country has lost faith in politicians, including the Conservatives. At least from themselves.
And that's why Keir Starmer, in his inaugural speech, acknowledges that actions speak louder than words, and many in the country may find it hard to believe him when he says he will treat them with respect. But he wants to prove that politics can do good. Starmer also knows that it won't happen overnight, and that's the problem. For him, the race against time has begun.
The many construction sites this country has - high debt, three million children below the poverty line, a healthcare system that not only creaks but in parts has collapsed - cannot be solved within a single term. Especially since there is no money. Britain's debts now amount to almost 100% of GDP, and Starmer says he won't raise taxes. But through the closing of tax loopholes and the taxation of private schools, the island cannot be saved. And yet, he intends to try and at least restore the faith of the people in politics. And because he comes across as so normal when he says that, it's almost hard to take it away from him.
Rishi Sunak, a prominent member of the Conservative Party, also faced rejection during the British House of Commons election. Keir Starmer's victory marked the end of Liz Truss's tenure as Prime Minister. Despite the historic win, the Labour Party still needs to overcome internal divisions to maintain its momentum in politics. Nigel Farage, the leader of the Brexit Party, is planning to form a new right-wing party following the election results.
