(Alliance News) - Prime Minister Keir Starmer got straight to work assembling his cabinet after promising to rebuild trust in politics and restore hope to the nation after a landslide Labour victory in the general election.

Rachel Reeves was confirmed as Britain's first woman chancellor, Angela Rayner is Starmer's deputy prime minister and retained the levelling up, housing & communities brief, and Yvette Cooper is home secretary.

David Lammy was appointed foreign secretary, putting to bed some speculation over whether he would get the post he shadowed in opposition.

The first batch of appointments contained no surprises as Pat McFadden, who played a central role in shaping Labour's election campaign, was named chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, John Healey defence secretary, Shabana Mahmood justice secretary, Wes Streeting health secretary, Bridget Phillipson education secretary and Ed Miliband energy secretary.

In his first speech on Downing Street, Starmer said the British people had voted "decisively for change".

Starmer 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 Starmer'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, Sunak.

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

Starmer 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 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 UK 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.

His announcement is likely to reignite the Conservative civil war as the party considers how to respond both to the Labour rout and the rise of Nigel Farage's Reform UK.

Sunak said: "It is important that, after 14 years in government, the Conservative Party rebuilds, but also that it takes up its crucial role in opposition professionally and effectively."

In Wales, the Tories were wiped out while in Scotland Labour was rampant.

With all but one of the 57 Scottish seats declared on Friday morning, Labour held 37, the SNP nine and the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats each had five.

In 2019, Labour returned just one MP to the SNP's 48.

First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney told the PA news agency: "We've got to face up to the realities of the situation that we are in and we've got to build the trust and the confidence of the public in Scotland."

source: PA

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