Keir Starmer made an immediate attempt to bridge political divides this afternoon and said there is “weariness in the heart of” the UK that requires fixing as he addressed the masses for the first time as Prime Minister.
Stood outside the steps of his new 10 Downing Street home after visiting King Charles III, the Labour Party leader was noticeably non-partisan, speaking directly to those who chose to put their cross in alternative parties’ boxes.
“If you voted Labour yesterday we will carry the responsibility of our trust as we rebuild our country, but whether you voted for us or not – in fact especially if not – I say to you directly my government will serve you,” he said.
In what appeared a barbed remark at his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn, Starmer, whose party won a landslide, said Labour will govern “unburdened by doctrine, guided by a determination to serve your interests, to defy those who have written our country off.”
He faced the country’s many challenges and criticisms of politicians head on, positing that “when the gap between sacrifices made by people and the service they receive from politicians grows this big, it leads to weariness in the heart of a nation.”
“This lack of trust can be healed by actions not words,” he added. “Our country needs a big reset – a rediscovery of who we are. There are people who were doing the right thing and felt they were recognized 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.”
Starmer offered an olive branch to now-predecessor Rishi Sunak, paying tribute to his achievement “as the first British Asian Prime Minister of our country and the extra effort that will have required.”
Running counter to what was sometimes a bruising campaign, Sunak earlier today called Starmer “a decent, public-spirited man, whom I respect,” after handing over the keys to Number 10.
Labour won with a landslide, while the Conservatives were consigned to electoral oblivion, dented by the rise of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. Only two seats are still to be counted.
The post Keir Starmer Speaks Of “Weariness In The Heart Of A Nation” As He Uses First Prime Ministerial Speech To Attempt To Bridge Political Divides appeared first on Deadline.
