Keir Starmer's first speech as Prime Minister: 5 July 2024
Keir Starmer gave his first speech as Prime Minister on the steps of Downing Street.
Good afternoon鈥β�
I have just returned from Buckingham Palace鈥β�
Where I accepted an invitation from His Majesty the King鈥β�
To form the next government of this great nation.聽
I want to thank the outgoing Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.聽
His achievement as the first British Asian Prime Minister of our country鈥β�
The extra effort that will have required鈥β犅�
Should not be underestimated by anyone.聽
We pay tribute to that today鈥β�
And we also recognise the dedication and hard work he brought to his leadership.
But now our country has voted, decisively鈥β�
For change.聽聽
For national renewal.聽
And a return of politics to public service.
When the gap between the sacrifices made by people鈥β�
And the service they receive from politicians鈥�
Grows this聽big.聽
It leads to a weariness in the heart of a nation.聽聽
A draining away of the hope, the spirit, the belief in a better future鈥�
That we need to move forward, together.聽
Now, this wound鈥�
This lack of trust鈥β�
Can only be healed by actions not words鈥β�
I know that.聽聽
But we can make a start today鈥β�
With the simple acknowledgment鈥β�
That public service is a privilege.聽聽
And that your government should treat every single person in this country鈥β�
With respect.聽
If you voted for Labour yesterday鈥β�
We will carry the responsibility of your trust, as we rebuild our country.聽
But whether you voted Labour or not鈥β�
In fact - especially if you did not鈥β�
I say to you, directly鈥�
My government will serve聽you.聽
Politics can be a force for good - we will show that.聽
And that is how we will govern.聽
Country first, party second.聽
Yet, if I鈥檓 honest鈥β�
Service is merely a pre-condition for hope.聽
And it is surely clear to everyone鈥β�
That our country needs a bigger reset鈥β犅�
A rediscovery of who we are.聽
Because no matter how fierce the storms of history鈥β�
One of the great strengths of this nation鈥�
Has always been our ability to navigate a way through to calmer waters.聽
And yet this depends upon politicians鈥β�
Particularly those who stand for stability and moderation - as I do鈥β�
Recognising when we must change course.聽
For too long now鈥β�
We have turned a blind eye as millions slid into greater insecurity.聽聽
Nurses, builders, drivers, carers鈥β�
People doing the right thing聽
Working harder than ever鈥β�
Recognised - at moments like this, before.聽
Yet as soon as the cameras stop rolling鈥β�
Their lives are ignored.聽
I want to say very clearly to those people - not this time.聽
Changing a country is not like flicking a switch鈥β�
And the world聽is now a more volatile place.聽
This will take a while.聽
But have no doubt that the work of change begins - immediately.
Have no doubt - that we will rebuild Britain鈥β�
With wealth created in every community.聽
Our NHS back on its feet, facing the future.聽
Secure borders鈥�
Safer streets鈥β�
Everyone treated with dignity and respect at work.聽
The opportunity of clean British power鈥�
Cutting your energy bills for good.聽
And, brick by brick鈥β�
We will rebuild the infrastructure of opportunity鈥β�
The world class schools and colleges鈥�
The affordable homes that I know鈥β�
Are the ingredients of hope for working people鈥β�
The security that working class families like mine鈥β�
Could build their lives around.聽
Because if I asked you, now鈥β�
Whether you believe that Britain will be better for your children鈥β�
I know - too many of you would say: no.聽
And so my government will fight, every day鈥β�
Until you believe again.聽
From now on鈥β�
You have a government unburdened by doctrine鈥β�
Guided only by a determination to serve your interests鈥�
To defy, quietly鈥β犅�
Those who have written our country off.聽聽
You have given us a clear mandate鈥β�
And we will use it to deliver change鈥β�
To restore service and respect to politics鈥β�
End the era of noisy performance鈥β�
Tread more lightly on your lives鈥β�
And unite our country.聽
Four nations鈥β�
Standing together again鈥β�
Facing down, as we have so often in our past鈥�
The challenges of an insecure world鈥�
Committed - to a calm and patient rebuilding.聽
So with respect and humility鈥β�
I invite you all鈥β�
To join this government of service鈥β�
In the mission of national renewal.聽
Our work is urgent鈥β�
And we begin it today.