Sir Keir Starmer announced as new Labour leader

Sir Keir Starmer has been announced as the new Labour leader.

The MP was chosen to replace Jeremy Corbyn, who announced he was stepping down following the 2019 general election.

He ran against fellow MPs Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy for the top job.

Starmer, a human rights lawyer, won by a landslide, taking 56% of the vote.

It’s the honour and privilege of my life to be elected as Leader of the Labour Party.

I will lead this great party into a new era, with confidence and hope, so that when the time comes, we can serve our country again – in government. pic.twitter.com/F4X088FTYY
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) April 4, 2020

In a post uploaded to social media, Mr Starmer said it was “the honour and privilege of my life to be elected as Leader of the Labour Party”.

The MP for Holborn and St Pancras added: “I will lead this great party into a new era, with confidence and hope, so that when the time comes, we can serve our country again – in government.”

In the statement, he also apologised for anti-Semitism in the party.

He said: “Anti-Semtisim has been a stain on our party. I have seen the grief that it has brought to so many Jewish communities.

“On behalf of the Labour Party, I am sorry.”

Shadow education secretary Angela Raynor has also been chosen as Labour’s new deputy leader.

She won against Rosena Allin-Khan and Richard Burgon, as well as Edinburgh South MP Ian Murray who was knocked out of the race in the second round, with 52.6% of the vote.

‘[Sir Keir] gets Scotland and the urgent need for a constitutional convention to modernise Britain. I am looking forward to working closely with him.’
Richard Leonard, Scottish Labour leader

Richard Leonard said Sir Keir will make an “outstanding” leader of the party and also praised the election of Angela Rayner as deputy leader.

The Scottish Labour leader said: “Keir will make an outstanding leader of the Labour Party and future prime minister. He has the overwhelming support of members right across the party.

“Keir has a fine intellect but has his feet on the ground. He knows what we need to do to change this country, to come through this Covid crisis and to build a better society.

“He gets Scotland and the urgent need for a constitutional convention to modernise Britain. I am looking forward to working closely with him.”

He added: “Angela’s election will bring a new energy and campaigning zeal to help lead the party, so I am delighted to see her win such a clear mandate.

“I know that she’ll be working closely with the Scottish Labour Party to rebuild our support and party organisation.”