United Kingdom: Keir Starmer officially appointed Prime Minister

This article was originally published in English

It’s official, the British have a new Prime Minister. This Friday at Buckingham Palace, Keir Starmer was appointed head of government by King Charles III after the landslide victory of the Labour Party in the general election.

The sovereign’s third Prime Minister in less than two years of reign, after Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, he thus ends 14 years of Conservative government.

In his first official speech outside 10 Downing Street, the 61-year-old former criminal lawyer promised a “national revival”. “Changing a country is not like flipping a switch. The world is more volatile now. It will take some time, but there is no doubt that the work of change will begin immediately.” did he declare.

For the start of his mandate, Keir Starmer wants to rely on the Labour Manifesto, a document listing the party’s political priorities, with five objectives for the next five years.

These include boosting economic growth, developing renewable energy, reducing crime, improving education and getting the struggling public health service back on its feet.

Despite the optimism of their supporters, Labour will face a severe economic downturn, damaged public services and rampant poverty.

Labour’s Rachel Reeves, who is set to become Britain’s first female chancellor, has said she is not “no illusion” on the scale of the challenge it would face. “The gravity of the Tory legacy is truly terrible”she told reporters.

Rachel Reeves noted that the UK’s debt was 100% of its national income and the tax burden was at its highest level in seven decades. She said she “can’t promise to change everything right away”but that the main mission of the new Labour government will be to revive economic growth.

Still, Anand Menon, professor of European politics and foreign affairs at King’s College London, believes British voters should be reassured by the relative stability of the new government.

“Voters should be encouraged that ministers are staying in office for a long time and that the government is able to think beyond the very short term to medium-term goals.”did he declare.

The first day of Parliament is expected to begin next Tuesday, with the election of the Speaker on the agenda. The State Opening of Parliament and the King’s Speech will follow on Wednesday, July 17.