Prime Minister Starmer appoints cabinet after resounding Labour victory in the UK
The new social democratic Premier announced that his government will "rebuild Britain", by creating wealth in every community. Shortly before that, King Charles III appointed the 61-year-old Starmer as the new Prime Minister and entrusted him with government formation. Previously, Charles had rejected Rishi Sunak's resignation.
Important positions in the new cabinet are held by women: Angela Rayner will be Deputy Prime Minister. The 44-year-old comes from humble backgrounds. She was engaged in the trade union and has been Labour's deputy leader since 2020. Rachel Reeves will be the first female Chancellor of the Exchequer. She was an economist at the Bank of England and is respected in business circles. Yvette Cooper will be the Home Secretary, who is known as an experienced home politician.
New Foreign Secretary will be David Lammy, whose ancestors were slaves from South American Guyana. He intends to approach the EU again, but there are no major changes in foreign policy under Labour to expect.
Labour won 412 seats in the election on Thursday, after counting almost all votes, which is significantly more than the 326 seats needed for an absolute majority in the House of Commons. The party thus came close to its record result of 1997 under Tony Blair, when it won 418 seats. The ruling Conservatives only managed 121 seats and achieved the worst result in their history.
The liberal democrats made significant gains and gained 71 seats according to the preliminary results. This is the best result in the history of the party, which displaces the Scottish National Party as the third strongest force, which only won nine of 57 constituencies.
The immigration-hostile Reform UK party of Brexit supporter Nigel Farage gained five seats. Farage managed to enter parliament for the eighth time in his attempt. The Greens also gained four seats.
In the 14 years of Tory governments, the British women and men had experienced a total of five conservative prime ministers - in 2022 there were three within four months. Liz Truss could only hold the office for 49 days - a negative record.
Four of the five last conservative government leaders under Labour lost their parliamentary seats on Thursday. Former prime ministers and ministers Boris Johnson, David Cameron, Theresa May and Liz Truss lost their parliamentary seats to opposition candidates. Only Sunak defended his parliamentary seat.
The Conservatives had conducted a negative campaign, warned of tax increases under a Labour government, and announced a tougher approach on the topics of migration and security. Labour leader Starmer, on the other hand, campaigned for a return to seriousness in British politics, promised long-term economic growth, and presented himself above all as a servant of the country.
Starmer warned in his victory speech on Friday morning that change cannot happen overnight. "It's not enough to press a button to change a country," Starmer emphasized.
For the 61-year-old, who started his political career only nine years ago and previously worked as a human rights lawyer and prosecutor, it is a remarkable rise. Sunak, who had taken office only 20 months ago, is the first serving British prime minister to not be re-elected in a parliamentary election.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) expressed joy over the election win of "our sister party". Regarding the new British Prime Minister Starmer, Scholz stated in Berlin, "he will be a very good, very successful Prime Minister."
US President Joe Biden congratulated Starmer as well. He looked forward to the joint work for "freedom and democracy worldwide," Biden stated in the online service X.
European Council President Charles Michel congratulated Starmer on his "historic" victory. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also transmitted his greetings to Starmer and called Great Britain a "reliable ally through thick and thin".
The new British government faces significant domestic challenges. The population is suffering from the ailing public service sector, rising prices, and is tired of the empty promises of politicians. The issues with the state health service NHS, where patients often have to wait months for doctor's appointments or surgeries, also played a crucial role in the election campaign.
Beyond these numerous challenges, Starmer has set the goal of a return to political integrity after the scandal-ridden years of Conservative governments.
- Starmer's government aims to revitalize Britain, generating prosperity in all communities.
- Upon assuming the premiership, Starmer was appointed by King Charles III, having been previously rejected by him for Sunak's resignation.
- In the new cabinet, women hold prominent positions, with Angela Rayner serving as Deputy Prime Minister and Rachel Reeves as the first female Chancellor of the Exchequer.
- David Lammy, whose ancestors were enslaved in Guyana, will serve as the new Foreign Secretary, seeking a rappprochement with the EU without significant policy changes.
- The Labour Party secured a significant victory in the parliamentary election, winning 412 seats, just shy of Tony Blair's record of 418 seats in 1997.
- The Conservative Party suffered their worst result in history, securing only 121 seats, while the Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party made substantial gains.
- Reform UK, an immigration-focused party led by Nigel Farage, gained five seats, and the Greens also managed to increase their representation in Parliament.
- The previous five Conservative prime ministers in the past 14 years lost their parliamentary seats in the election, with only Rishi Sunak managing to retain his seat.
- In his victory speech, Starmer warned that change cannot happen overnight and emphasized the need for dedication and commitment to transforming the nation.
- Starmer's rise to the premiership is remarkable since he began his political career just nine years ago and previously worked as a human rights lawyer and prosecutor.
- Sunak, who served as prime minister for only 20 months, became the first British prime minister to not be re-elected in a parliamentary election.
- European leaders, including Scholz, Biden, and Michel, have congratulated Starmer on his election victory and expressed their support for the new government's goals and commitments to political integrity and the betterment of Great Britain.
