United Kingdom: Starmer says he is “impatient” to make change a reality

New British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Saturday he was "impatient" to deliver the promised change in the UK, making economic growth the "mission number one" of his government.

Without wasting time, for his first full day in power, Labor's Keir Starmer gathered his main ministers on Saturday morning before holding a press conference from 10 Downing Street.

He notably confirmed his intention to abandon the very controversial project of the previous conservative government to expel migrants to Rwanda.

This project “was dead and buried before it even started. It was never a deterrent (…), I am not prepared to continue with gimmicky measures”, declared Keir Starmer.

“I'm eager to implement change and I think, and hope, what you've seen already demonstrates that,” he said. he told journalists during his press conference.

The challenges are numerous, with an economy struggling, public services in great difficulty, and even the repercussions still important aspects of the cost of living crisis.

“We have a lot of work to do, so now let's get to work”, he said somewhat earlier to his government during its first council of ministers.

We must “ensure that growth is everywhere across the country so that people live better everywhere “, he insisted to the press, announcing future “difficult decisions”.

From Sunday, he will travel to Scotland – where Labor took back many seats from the separatists in the election – Wales, and Northern Ireland.

“Politics which is interested in personal interests is yesterday's politics”, he said, promising a government with a sense of “service for everyone, whether they voted for us or not”, after the scandals that marred the last Conservative governments.

After Thursday's elections, Labor won a very large majority, with 412 of the 650 seats in the House of Representatives. Commons, a score close to that of Tony Blair in 1997.

During the campaign, the man who entered politics only nine years ago promised the return of “stability” and “seriousness”, with rigorous management of public spending.

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– support for NATO and kyiv –

In terms of foreign policy, Keir Starmer assured on Saturday the United Kingdom's “unwavering support” for NATO, as well as than in Kiev in its war against Russia.

He is going next week to the summit marking the organization's 75th anniversary in Washington for what will be his first not on the international scene.

As of Friday, he has already had telephone conversations with several heads of state and government, including American President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

On Friday, Keir Starmer began to put together his government.

Deputy Prime Minister for Housing Angela Rayner leaves 10 Downing Street, July 5, 2024 © AFP – Paul ELLIS

Angela Rayner, representative of Labour's left wing, has been appointed Deputy Prime Minister for Housing.

For the first time, a woman occupies the very prestigious position of Finance Minister, former Bank of England economist Rachel Reeves.

David Lammy, from an immigrant family from Guyana, became head of British diplomacy.

In a more junior position, Keir Starmer on Saturday appointed Secretary of State for Science Patrick Vallance, scientific advisor to the government during the Covid-19 pandemic.

– succession –

The new British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria, in front of 10 Downing Street in London, July 5, 2024, the day after the legislative elections © AFP – JUSTIN TALLIS

At the end of the legislative elections, Parliament appears completely reshuffled, with conservatives retaining only 121 deputies.

The former Prime Minister Minister Rishi Sunak will resign as leader of the Tories once the succession process is organized.

The Liberal Democrats (centrists) once again become the third force, with 72 seats , a record. A real political shock, the anti-immigration and anti-system Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage, entered with five MPs.

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