(NewsNation) — After a landslide vote in favor of Britain’s Labour Party, Keir Starmer led the ousting of the Conservative Party for the first time in 14 years.
Starmer, who was not officially sworn in until a choreographed ceremony wherein King Charles III formally asked Starmer to form a new government.
As of Friday, he was sworn in after now-former prime minister Rishi Sunak offered his resignation to the king.
Starmer was a lawyer who headed up Britain’s head of prosecutions before entering politics in 2015. He is a self-described “socialist”, who wants to address the inequity of wealth, influence and health.
What has Starmer said?
The 61-year-old addressed the media outside the prime minister’s traditional residence, London’s 10 Downing Street after his induction Friday.
Starmer recognized the accomplishments of his election rival before turning his attention to the future.
“When the gap between the sacrifices made by people and the service they receive from politicians grows this big, it leads to a weariness in the heart of a nation, a draining away of the hope, the spirit, the belief in a better future,” Starmer said.
“But we need to move forward together. Now this wound, this lack of trust can only be healed by actions not words, I know that.
“But we can make a start today with the simple acknowledgment that public service is a privilege and that your government should treat every single person in this country with respect.”
What could US-UK relations look like?
We could find out a lot sooner than one may first realize with President Biden and Starmer set to meet at NATO’s 75th Anniversary summit in Washington D.C., beginning Tuesday.
The three-day event will, of course, provide an opportunity to meet with Biden something he has wanted to make happen before this year’s respective elections, according to Politico.
Labour has emphasized their closeness in policy to that of the US’ incumbent president, including an embrace of Bidenomics.
The Economist even went as far as to say Starmer is “infatuated” with Biden in a September article.
Former UK House of Commons clerk, Eliot Wilson theorized on what Starmer’s relationships with Biden or Trump could look like; with Biden a more suitable fit for Britain’s PM.
“A Biden White House would find Starmer a well-wisher and useful spear-carrier,” Wilson wrote for The Hill.
“For Biden’s diplomacy, he would fall firmly into the category of ‘nice to have.’ For Trump, he would prove a vague annoyance, and could not be counted on to echo the wilder MAGA phrasebook.”
What has Starmer said of Biden and Trump?
Little has been publicly said by the UK’s new leader ahead of November’s presidential election. However, given the Labor Party’s leanings, one would theorize a stronger relationship could lie with Biden.
While acknowledging the “unprecedented situation” surrounding Trump’s sentencing in hush money trial last month, Starmer elucidated his intent for strong ties with the US.
“We will work with whoever is elected … We have a special relationship with the U.S. that transcends whoever the president is,” Starmer said.
Former President Trump has commented on the results of the UK election, but not as it pertains to Starmer’s victory over Sunak.
Instead, Trump congratulated Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, a long-time ally of the Republican nominee.
“Congratulations to Nigel Farage on his big WIN of a Parliament Seat Amid Reform UK Election Success,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Thursday.
“Nigel is a man who truly loves his Country! DJT.”
