UK’s new prime minister assumes office

Labour leader Keir Starmer has formally become the country’s head of government after meeting with King Charles III

Keir Starmer has officially become the UK prime minister after his party’s landslide victory in the general election this week, having secured at least 412 of the 650 seats in parliament.

After exit polls and early overnight results indicated a clear win for the Labour Party, Starmer visited Buckingham Palace on Friday for a formal meeting with King Charles III, as is customary before the new prime minister assumes office. During his meeting, the King formally invited Starmer to form a new government.

After leaving Buckingham Palace, Starmer made his way to his new residence at 10 Downing Street, where he addressed the nation for the first time as prime minister.

He confirmed that the King had officially tasked him with forming the next government, and expressed his gratitude to his predecessor Rishi Sunak, adding that his achievement of becoming the UK’s first British-Asian prime minister should not be “underestimated by anyone.”

“Now our country has voted decisively for change and a return of politics to public service,” Starmer said, adding that a rift had grown between people and politicians, which has led to “weariness in the heart of the nation.”

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