General Election LIVE: Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria settle into No10 after historic win
NEWLY elected Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria waved as they arrived at No10 Downing Street today.
The Labour leader was cheered on by staff inside his new official London residence after making his first address to the nation.
His arrival into Downing Street was hailed earlier today after King Charles formally installed him as Britain's 58th Prime Minister.
Sir Keir and Victoria were given a glorious welcome after returning from the Palace, where they had met with His Majesty, the Queen's principal private secretary Sir Clive Alderton, and Charles's equerry Royal Navy Commander William Thornton.
He vowed to "fight every day" and "rebuild Britain" as he delivered his first speech in front of No. 10.
It comes as Sir Keir is formally naming his Cabinet as the top team meet in No10 for the first time.
Firebrand Angela Rayner has been appointed Deputy PM and Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
And Rachel Reeves makes history today as Britain's first female Chancellor.
The coveted role of Foreign Secretary will be held by David Lammy, while Yvette Cooper as Home Secretary faces the tough task of stopping small boats.
Meanwhile, the nation's security will heavily depend on John Healey as Defence Secretary.
Other cabinet roles include:
- Shabana Mahmood as Justice Secretary
- Wes Streeting as Health Secretary
- Bridget Phillipson as Education Secretary
- Ed Miliband as Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary
- Pat McFadden as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
- Liz Kendall as Secretary Work and Pensions Secretary
- Jonathan Reynolds as Business and Trade Secretary
- Peter Kyle as Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary
- Louise Haigh MP as Transport Secretary
Earlier Sir Keir promised to "fight every day" and "rebuild Britain" as he delivered his first speech in front of No. 10.
In sun-soaked Downing Street, the Labour chief vowed that "my government will serve you".
After a historic election night:
- Keir Starmer has become Britain's next Prime Minister after Labour got 412 seats amid a brutal Tory wipeout.
- He promised to lead a Labour party grounded in “public service” in his first speech as PM in front of a jubilant crowd at No 10.
- Sir Keir will now appoint his cabinet as he cracks on with his plan for change.
- Rishi Sunak admitted defeat earlier on the steps of Downing Street and apologised to the nation for his party’s failures.
- Tory big beasts including former PM Liz Truss and ex-Defence Secretary Grant Shapps have lost seats after a nightmare night for Conservatives.
- He was followed by Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt, one of eight Cabinet ministers have lost their seats
- Nigel Farage’s Reform party claimed an unprecedented four seats as they grabbed votes from the Tories.
- Tory defector Lee Anderson claimed the first Reform seat, followed by Farage, Richard Tice, and Rupert Lowe.
- Sir Keir's predecessor Jeremy Corbyn, now standing as an independent, also held onto Islington North
- All eyes are now on our new PM with Piers Morgan telling our Never Mind The Ballots election show that Sir Keir MUST deliver real change after the Tory disaster
Making an appeal to those who did not vote for his party yesterday, he said: “Whether you voted Labour or not, in fact, especially if you did not, I say to you directly: my government will serve you.”
Sir Keir acknowledged changing a country is not "like flicking a switch" and that will "take a while".
But he went on to say: "I have no doubt that the work of change begins immediately. I have no doubt that we will rebuild Britain with wealth created in every community."
The new Prime Minister also invited the country to join him in his mission.
And he pledged to bring an end to "the era of noisy performance".
To rapturous applause, Sir Keir said: "We will show that we've changed the Labour Party, returned it to service, and that is how we will govern.
"With respect and humility, I invite you all to join this government of service in the mission of national renewal.
"Country first, party second. Our work is urgent and we begin it today."
Britain's new PM added: "For too long now, we've turned a blind eye.
"As millions slid into greater insecurity, nurses, builders, drivers, carers, people doing the right thing, working harder every day, recognized at moments like this before.
"Yet, as soon as the cameras stopped rolling, their lives are ignored.
"I want to say very clearly to those people: Not this time."
Sir Keir said his work is "urgent" and vowed "to begin it today".
The incoming PM must mull over which Labour MPs to include in his Cabinet.
It came as Rishi Sunak made an emotional statement from Downing Street, where he thanked his "beautiful daughters" for the sacrifices they made while he governed the country.
Tune into our election results special on
The ex-PM will stay on as leader of the opposition until "the formal arrangements for selecting my successor are in place".
With a glimmer in his eye, Mr Sunak said: "I would like to say first and foremost, I am sorry.
"I have given this job my all.
"But you have sent a clear signal that the government of the United Kingdom must change.
"And yours is the only judgement that matters."
"I have heard your anger, your disappointment, and I take responsibility for this loss."
The ex-PM hailed "just how unremarkable it is that two generations after my grandparents came here with little I could become prime minister".
He described the beauty in being able to watch his young daughters "light Divali candles on the steps in Downing Street."
Turning to his successor, Mr Sunak said: "Whilst he has been my political opponent, Sir Keir Starmer will shortly become our prime minister.
"In this job, his successes will be all our successes, and I wish him and his family well.
"Whatever our disagreements in this campaign, he is a decent, public spirited man who I respect."
Mr Sunak then travelled to Buckingham Palace, where the King formally accepted his resignation.
Follow our live blog below for the latest news and updates...
Birds of a feather...
The incoming Parliament includes the MPs Maria Eagle, Jodie Gosling, Angela Eagle, Robin Swann, Sean Woodcock, Peter Swallow and Stephanie Peacock.
Ashley Fox, Peter Lamb and Lorraine Beavers will also help represent the animal kingdom, at least with their surnames.
Wes Streeting enters No. 10
A Blairite tipped as a future Labour leader and Prime Minister, Mr Streeting's background reads like a Danny Dyer script.
Wes, 41, was brought up on a council estate in London’s East End to a single mum who often had to pawn her jewellery to pay the bills.
His granddad Bill was a Royal Navy World War II veteran - but also a bank robber who hung out with the East End’s infamous Kray twins and spent his life in and out of jail.
His nan Libby ended up getting embroiled in Bill’s crimes and sharing a prison cell with Christine Keeler, the model at the heart of the Profumo Affair.
The Ilford South MP is a proud patriot who often talks of his love for King and country - values he got from his granddad Bill.
Wes has warned the NHS must “reform or die”. He has set himself the mammoth task of fixing it. It is a goal that could seal his political fate.
Rachel Reeves entering Downing Street
Labour's pre-election shadow chancellor is the latest MP to enter No. 10.
Rachel Reeves has spent the past 18 months carefully reinventing herself as the new, non-nonsense ‘Iron Chancellor’ in waiting.
It is a deliberate nod to Margaret Thatcher and designed to show Brits that she can be trusted with their hard-earned cash.
Reeves was a schoolgirl chess champion, studied PPE at Oxford and worked at the Bank of England.
After getting elected as Leeds West MP in 2010, Rachel quickly became a rising star of Ed Miliband’s frontbench.
But Reeves has her critics in Labour ranks after refusing to serve in Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet.
Her career really took off when Sir Keir Starmer promoted her to shadow chancellor in his first big reshuffle in 2021.
Since then the pair have been joined at the hip - they are probably the closest No10 and No11 pairing since David Cameron and George Osborne.
A tough cookie, she was key in scrapping Labour’s £28 billion a year green eco pledge - much to the fury of Ed Miliband and Angela Rayner.
Seven protesters heckle Farage
At least seven protesters have heckled Nigel Farage at his victory presser.
There were shouts of "You're a racist" and "You don't represent the working class".
More to follow.
Farage claps back at hecklers
Two hecklers were escorted out of Nigel Farage's press conference just now.
Farage repeatedly shouted "Boring" at the pair of protesters.
He says this it be good preparation for the reception he will get in the Commons.
Cabinet appointments get underway
Pat McFadden, Labour’ national campaign coordinator, has just arrived at No 10.
He was also a shadow Cabinet Office minister and is expected to play a very big role in Keir Starmer’s government.
But we do not yet know what McFadden's role will be - stay tuned for live updates.
Heckler thrown out of Farage press conference
A heckler has just been thrown out of Nigel Farage's press conference.
A heckler has been booted out of Nigel Farage's press conference The Reform UK boss has just been elected MP for the Essex seaside town of Clacton.
This is Farage’s first successful bid for a Commons seat after seven failed attempts.
Stay tuned for everything Farage has to say in his post-election presser.
Angela Rayner heading into Downing Street
Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner has just arrived in Downing Street.
Angela Rayner arriving in Downing Street Rayner is set to be named deputy prime minister in Sir Keir Starmer’s government.
Labour’s firebrand deputy leader is known for her tough talk and left-wing politics.
She grew up on a Stockport council estate in abject poverty - once recalling how her mum fed her dog food because she could not read the label on the tin.
Angela - or Angie as she is known by her friends - left school without any qualifications and was pregnant at 16.
After her son Ryan was born she started work as a carer, then becoming a trade union rep for Unison before becoming an MP for Ashton-under-Lyne in 2015.
Reform UK blasting club anthems
While journalists wait for Nigel Farage to give his press conference, they are treated to Darude Sandstorm and Rhythm of the Night.
The rousing tunes will help keep the bleary-eyed press pack awake after a gruelling overnight shift.
Farage giving press conference
Nigel Farage says he will "address supporters and the media at 2.30pm this afternoon on the next steps for our political revolt".
The Reform UK boss has just been elected MP for the Essex seaside town of Clacton.
It's a lesson in persistence - this is Farage's first successful bid for a Commons seat after seven failed attempts.
Stay tuned for everything Farage has to say in his post-election presser.
Don't forget Labour's frontbench casualties
It was not just the Conservatives who lost a string of big hitters last night.
Labour frontbencher Jonathan Ashworth had been expected to play a prominent role in the new Government.
But Ashworth was outsted by a pro-Palestinian independent in Leicester South.
And Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer beat Labour's culture boss Thangham Debbonaire in Bristol Central.
Three other former Labour MPs were also ousted by pro-Palestine candidates.
Former leader Jeremy Corbyn, now standing as an independent, fought off Labour to hold Islington North.
How did Sir Keir get his knighthood?
Sir Keir Starmer is the first knight of the realm to become prime minister for more than 60 years.
Old-school Tory Sir Alec Douglas-Home was the last premier who entered office with a knighthood in 1963.
Keir was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 2014 New Year Honours for "services to law and criminal justice".
He won the gong for his work as head of the Crown Prosecution Service and Director of Public Prosecutions.
Throughout the late Queen's reign, all of her prime ministers from Sir Winston Churchill up until Sir Tony Blair were given knighthoods in the Order of the Garter.
The only exception was Conservative Harold Macmillan, who declined the offer.
Buckingham Palace statement in full
King Charles met Sir Keir Starmer this lunchtime to formally invite the Labour leader to form a government.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "The King received in Audience The Right Honourable Sir Keir Starmer MP today."
A spokesperson added: "His Majesty requested him Sir Keir form a new Administration.
"Sir Keir accepted His Majesty's offer and kissed hands upon his appointment as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury."
Yellow Hammer batters the Blue Wall
The Liberal Democrats have made big inroads into the Tories' so-called Blue Wall seats across the South and South West of England.
Sir Ed Davey's party enjoyed its best ever night, scooping more than 70 seats.
Well-heeled southern voters rejected the Tories in the party's historic heartlands.
Seats once held by former PMs David Cameron, Theresa May and Boris Johnson fell to the Lib Dems.
The centrist party also ousted Cabinet ministers Gillian Keegan, Alex Chalk, Michelle Donelan and Lucy Frazer.
Two seats left to declare
There are just two seats left to declare after a mammoth shift by vote-counters across the UK.
South Basildon and East Thurrock in Essex is having a full recount which started a few minutes ago at 2pm.
Reform UK’s James McMurdock is tipped to become the constituency's new MP ahead of Labour’s Jack Ferguson.
The other undeclared seat is Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire in the Highlands.
A recount to will be held in the Scottish seat tomorrow morning, election officials said.
Angus MacDonald could become the 72nd Liberal Democrat MP at the expense of the SNP incumbent Drew Hendry.
Sir Keir promises 'Government of service'
The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, said: "I have just returned from Buckingham Palace, where I accepted an invitation from His Majesty the King to form the next government of this great nation.
"When the gap between the sacrifices made by people and the service they received from politicians grows this big, it leads to awareness 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 lack of trust can only be healed by actions, not words.
I know that.
"But we can make a start to do that 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've changed the Labour Party, returned it to service, and that is how we will govern. Country first, party second.."Keir he is?
Sir Keir Starmer is somewhere in the bowels of Whitehall, but nobody seem to know where is is going to come from...
He was dropped off outside the back of No.10, went inside, but has now got back into the Audi to drive round.
Nice of him to take his time.
Sir Keir Starmer is inside No.10
Sir Keir and wife Lady Victoria have been dropped off in Whitehall and, unlike the last five Tory PMs, has opted to walk through No.10 instead of sweeping up to the front door.
King's third PM
By Jane Matthews
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer swept into Buckingham Palace just after noon in a chauffeur-driven car ahead of becoming the third prime minister of the King's reign.
Sir Keir was joined by his wife Lady Victoria Starmer, who works in occupational health for the NHS, and the couple were welcomed by the King and Queen's principal private secretary Sir Clive Alderton.
Also there to greet the politician and his wife was Charles' equerry Royal Navy Commander William Thornton.
A heavy shower had fallen just before Sir Keir arrived and as he stepped from his car the sun broke through, and he appeared to reference the turn in the weather as Sir Clive looked to the heavens and replied "how about that?".
Sir Keir Starmer is meeting the King
In a few short moments, Sir Keir Starmer will become Prime Minister as King Charles invites him to form the first Labour government in 14 years.
Credit: © 2024 PA Media, All Rights Reserved Here comes Keir
Sir Keir Starmer has arrived at Buckingham Palace, where he is about to be asked to form a government by King Charles.
At least someone's relaxed
Larry the Cat - about to get another new tenant inside No.10 - looks pretty chilled out about the election result.
King accepts Rishi Sunak's resignation
A statement from Buckingham Palace reads: "The Right Honourable Rishi Sunak MP had an Audience of The King this morning and tendered his resignation as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury, which His Majesty was graciously pleased to accept."
Runners and riders...
By Sophia Sleigh, Political Correspondent
THE battle to be the next Tory Party leader started long before Rishi Sunak resigned.
Some jostling candidates have secretly been wooing backers for weeks.
Now we know who has survived the bloodbath, we can guess who is in with the best chance of becoming Leader of the Opposition.
With big beasts Penny Mordaunt and Grant Shapps knocked out, there are seven obvious candidates.
Other more junior MPs might consider throwing their hat in the ring when the starting gun is fired.
Kemi Badenoch, former Business Secretary
Darling of the right-wing Kemi Badenoch is a hit with the Tory grass roots.
She previously left the door open to running as leader, saying: “We will talk about leadership things after an election.”
A true blue Brexiteer Ms Badenoch has been outspoken on transgender issues.
She is seen as a frontrunner by many and previously ran for leader after the fall of Boris Johnson.
James Cleverly, former Home Secretary
A recent story claimed the Essex MP does not intend to stand in the Tory leadership race.
His wife Susie has just survived several rounds of intense cancer treatment.
However, he is popular with other MPs and experienced having held two of the great offices of state – Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary.
The Essex MP told Sky News last night: “What might happen in the future I’ll leave that for the near future.”
Leaning more to the centrist side of the Tory Party he might be seen as a unity candidate to bring together warring factions.
Dame Priti Patel, former Home Secretary
Witham’s MP has long been loved by the Tory membership.
Eurosceptic Dame Priti was a leading figure in the Vote Leave campaign.
And is seen as a hardliner on immigration having signed off on the Tories flagship Rwanda deportation scheme.
She kept her powder dry throughout Rishi Sunak’s premiership, but plenty of her allies want her to run.
Suella Braverman, former Home Secretary
It will be no surprise if Suella Braverman throws her hat in the ring to be leader.
She was openly critical of Rishi Sunak’s premiership and declared two days before the election that the fight was over.
Mr Sunak sacked her over an article that accused the Metropolitan Police of bias in policing protests.
And she has annoyed some of her colleagues by saying she would welcome Nigel Farage into the Conservative Party.
She told the Times: “There’s not much difference really between him and many of the policies that we stand for.”
Robert Jenrick, former Immigration Minister
Since he left government Robert Jenrick has been making the case for a harder line on immigration.
Some of his colleagues think this points to serious leadership ambitions.
The MP for Newark resigned as a minister last December claiming draft legislation designed to revive the Rwanda deportation policy did “not go far enough”.
He was previously seen as something a moderate - meaning he might just have the broader appeal needed to unite the Tory Party.
Jeremy Hunt, former Chancellor of the Exchequer
Tory big beast Jeremy Hunt ran for leader twice – in 2019 and 2022.
When he’s been questioned recently about future leadership ambitions he has remained reluctant.
But he will easily be one of the most experienced former Cabinet ministers to survive the cull.
He will certainly appeal to the lefty One Nation side of the party after he was brought in to steady the economy after Liz Truss.
But it might not be enough to bring the right wing on board who are seriously concerned about how Reform UK has eaten into their vote.
Tom Tugendhat, former Security Minister
Former British Army officer Tom Tugendhat is popular with the lefty One Nation side of the Tory Party.
He previously ran in the race to replace Boris Johnson in the summer of 2022.
And bookies say the odds on the Tonbridge MP have significantly shortened overnight.
He might have broader appeal too having served as an officer in the Territorial Army, both in Iraq and Afghanistan, in several front line operations.
Starmer will end with less than 10m votes in total
Last time a party won the election with less than 10m votes was 2005, when Tony Blair got 9,552,376 votes for 355 seats
