PM Sir Keir Starmer assembles Cabinet after vowing to rebuild Britain

Rachel Reeves has been named the first female chancellor in history as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer got straight to work assembling his cabinet after a landslide Labour victory.

Angela Rayner has been named deputy prime minister and levelling up secretary, while Yvette Cooper is the new Home Secretary and David Lammy becomes Foreign Secretary.

Wes Streeting has been named Health Secretary, Bridget Phillipson will be Education Secretary, Shabana Mahmood has been named Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, while former Labour leader Ed Miliband Ed Miliband has been appointed as the new Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Pat McFadden was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and John Healey will be Defence Secretary.

In his first speech as Prime Minister, Starmer vowed to bring trust back to politics and restore hope to the nation.

Sir Keir said the country could “move forward together” as Labour took office following 14 years of Conservative rule.

He said: “Now our country has voted decisively for change, for national renewal and a return of politics to public service.

“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.

“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 acknowledgement that public service is a privilege and that your government should treat every single person in this country with respect.”

He said “my Government will serve you, politics can be a force for good”, adding: “The work of change begins immediately, but have no doubt, we will rebuild Britain.”

Following a brutal set of results for the Conservatives, Rishi Sunak announced he would quit as Tory leader and used his final speech in Downing Street to apologise to the British people and the Conservative Party.

After 648 of the 650 Commons seats had been declared, Labour had a majority of 176.

Labour had 412 seats and the Tories 121, the worst result in the party’s history.

But low turnout underlined Sir Keir’s message about the need to rebuild trust in the political system after 14 years of Tory rule marred by the Partygate scandal and the chaos of Conservative infighting which saw David Cameron followed in quick succession by Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and, finally, Mr Sunak.

The turnout figure stood at 59.85%, the lowest at a general election since 2001.

Sir Keir said: “Changing a country is not like flicking a switch. The world is now a more volatile place. This will take a while.

“But have no doubt that the work of change begins immediately. Have no doubt that we will rebuild Britain, with wealth created in every community.

“Our NHS back on its feet facing the future. Secure borders, safer streets, everyone treated with dignity and respect at work. The opportunity of clean British power, cutting your energy bills for good.

“Brick by brick, we will rebuild the infrastructure of opportunity.”

He added: “From now on, you have a Government unburdened by doctrine, guided only by the determination to serve your interest, to defy quietly those who have written our country off.”

Sir Keir’s address to the nation came after Mr Sunak used his final Downing Street appearance to acknowledge the scale of the electoral mauling his party had received.

“To the country, I would like to say first and foremost, I am sorry,” he said.

“I have given this job my all. But you have sent a clear signal that the government of the United Kingdom must change, and yours is the only judgment that matters.

“I have heard your anger, your disappointment, and I take responsibility for this loss.”

He said he would step down as Tory leader once the arrangements were in place to find a successor.