I am deeply saddened by the Prime Minister’s announcement that he will be stepping down as Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party.
I am proud to have called Sir Keir Starmer a colleague, an ally and a friend. He has approached public service with a good heart and genuine desire to do what is best for our country and its people. For that, he has my sincere gratitude, and I look forward to continuing to work with him in whatever capacity he sees fit.
The reality in this moment is that Britain has endured a prolonged period of political instability. For well over a decade, our country has seen leadership change after leadership change, at a time when consistency and long-term thinking have been desperately needed. I believed then, and I believe now, that stability is essential if we are to tackle the challenges facing our communities and our nation as a whole.
Despite significant international uncertainty and economic pressures, this Government has delivered meaningful progress. We have brought a true end to the cancerous era of austerity, overseen economic growth, taken important steps to rebuild our NHS, supported Ukraine, reduced net migration and small boat crossings, and delivered the biggest expansion of rights for workers and renters in a generation. This list goes on…
Of course, there is still much more to do. The cost of living remains a concern for many families, public services continue to face strain, and people expect leadership to go further and faster in tackling these overbearing pressures.
As the Labour Party begins the process of electing a new leader, I do not yet have a horse in this race, and look forward to hearing from the candidates about what they can deliver for the nation. I hope that whoever is chosen will build upon the progress already made and continue focusing on the priorities that matter most to the British people: growing the economy, strengthening our NHS, improving living standards and restoring faith in politics.
Repairing the damage caused by the financial crash, Brexit, the pandemic, international conflict and years of austerity was never going to be quick or easy. The challenges facing our country have been many years in the making, and addressing them requires patience, determination and a long-term commitment to change. While significant progress has been made, there is still much more to do. We must remain
focused on rebuilding Britain and improving people’s lives for as long as the British people place their trust in us to do so.
