Keir Starmer made his first speech as prime minister after a Labour landslide win.Source: Reuters
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00:00I have just returned from Buckingham Palace, where I accepted an invitation from His Majesty
00:07the King to form the next government of this great nation.
00:19I want to thank the outgoing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
00:23This achievement as the first British Asian Prime Minister of our country, the extra effort
00:31that that will have required, should not be underestimated by anyone.
00:38We pay tribute to that today.
00:42And we also recognise the dedication and hard work he brought to his leadership.
00:50But now our country has voted decisively for change, for national renewal and a return
00:59of politics to public service.
01:04When the gap between the sacrifices made by people and the service they receive from politicians
01:12grows this big, it leads to a weariness in the heart of a nation.
01:19A draining away of the hope, the spirit, the belief in a better future.
01:28That we need to move forward together.
01:33Now this wound, this lack of trust, can only be healed by actions, not words.
01:44I know that.
01:46But we can make a start today with the simple acknowledgement that public service is a privilege
01:54and that your government should treat every single person in this country with respect.
02:04If you voted Labour yesterday, we will carry the responsibility of your trust as we rebuild
02:11our country.
02:13But whether you voted Labour or not, in fact, especially if you did not, I say to you directly,
02:24my government will serve you.
02:29Politics can be a force for good.
02:32We will show that.
02:34We've changed the Labour Party, returned it to service and that is how we will govern.
02:41Party first, party second.
02:44Yet if I'm honest, service is merely a precondition of hope and it is surely clear to everyone
02:53that our country needs a bigger reset, a rediscovery of who we are because no matter how fierce
03:02the storms of history, one of the great strengths of this nation has always been our ability
03:09to navigate a way to calmer waters.
03:14And yet this depends upon politicians, particularly those who stand for stability and moderation,
03:23as I do, recognising when we must change course.
03:28For too long now, we've turned a blind eye as millions slid into greater insecurity.
03:35Nurses, builders, drivers, carers, people doing the right thing, working harder every
03:41day, recognised at moments like this before, yet as soon as the cameras stop rolling, their
03:51lives are ignored.
03:54I want to say very clearly to those people, not this time.
04:02Building a country is not like flicking a switch.
04:04The world is now a more volatile place.
04:08This will take a while.
04:11But have no doubt that the work of change begins immediately.
04:16Have no doubt that we will rebuild Britain with wealth created in every community, our
04:24NHS back on its feet facing the future, secure borders, safer streets, everyone treated with
04:31dignity and respect at work, the opportunity of clean British power cutting your energy
04:38bills for good.
04:41And brick by brick, we will rebuild the infrastructure of opportunity, the world-class schools and
04:49colleges, the affordable homes that I know are the ingredients of hope for working people,
04:57the security that working-class families like mine can build their lives around.
05:05Because if I asked you now whether you believe that Britain will be better for your children,
05:14I know too many of you would say no.
05:20And so my government will fight every day until you believe again.
05:25From now on, you have a government unburdened by doctrine, guided only by the determination
05:32to serve your interest, to defy, quietly, those who have written our country off.
05:41You have given us a clear mandate, and we will use it to deliver change, to restore
05:47service and respect to politics, end the era of noisy performance, tread more lightly on
05:54your lives, and unite our country, four nations standing together again, facing down, as we
06:05have so often in our past, the challenges of an insecure world, committed to a calm
06:14and patient rebuilding.
06:16So with respect and humility, I invite you all to join this government of service in
06:27the mission of national renewal.
06:31Our work is urgent, and we begin it today.
06:36Thank you very much.
06:37Thank you.
06:38Thank you.