Labour leader Keir Starmer received this Friday King Charles III’s commission to form a government as the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, after holding an audience with the sovereign at Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the royal family in London. He was appointed to do so following the resignation of Conservative Rishi Sunak, as is tradition.

Starmer will now drive to the Government headquarters in Downing Street, which will now be his official residence and office, where he gave his first speech to the nation as head of Government after achieve a historic absolute majority in the general elections held this Thursday.

The new British Prime Minister, speaking at 10 Downing Street, said on Friday that the United Kingdom had voted “decisively for change” and by “return politics to public service.”

“He has given us a clear mandate and we will use it to bring about change. Restore service and respect to politics. End the era of loud performance. Tread more lightly in your lives. And unite our country,” he promised. The new prime minister has pledged “with a calm and patient reconstruction“Therefore, with respect and humility, I invite you all to join this government of service, in the mission of national renewal.”

“Brick by brick we will rebuild the infrastructure of opportunity. World-class schools and colleges. Affordable housing, which I know are ingredients of hope for working people,” he continued with his promises. “Our work is urgent and we start it today. “Thank you very much,” he concluded his speech.

An overwhelming majority

Labour has achieved a landslide victory in Thursday’s election, by winning 412 seats211 more than in 2019, thus ending 14 years of conservative governments.

On the other hand, the Labour MP became this Friday the first politician with the title of ‘knight’ (‘sir‘) who took over as British Prime Minister from the conservative Alec Douglas-Home in 1963.

Other former heads of government received this title or that of lord once they left power, as was the case with David Cameron (lord), Tony Blair (sir) or John Major (sir). Starmer was granted the honorary title by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2014 for his “services to law and criminal justice”, having been Attorney General between 2008 and 2013.

Among other tasks, The Labour leader had a distinguished career as a prosecutor in cases of trials of terrorists and organized crime gangs.