Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pays tribute to Rishi Sunak in maiden Downing Street speech

New Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer used his maiden Downing Street speech to praise the 'hard work' and 'achievement' of former PM Rishi Sunak.

Mr Sunak - PM since October 2022 - resigned as leader of the Conservative Party overnight after a crushing defeat at the polls which saw his former cabinet members and other Tory MPs lose their seats.

Mr Starmer, speaking at a lectern in front of No 10, started his first prime ministerial speech by paying tribute to Mr Sunak's 'hard work'.

After stepping out from a car onto Downing Street in warm sunshine to applause and cheers, he said: "I want to thank the outgoing Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. His achievement as the first British-Asian prime minister of our country, the extra effort that that will have required, should not be underestimated by anyone. And we paid tribute to that today."

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"We also recognise the dedication and hard work he brought to his leadership."

Earlier, Sir Keir was invited to form a government by the King at Buckingham Palace

The new PM used his speech to reference what he called his Government's 'mission of national renewal'.

He said the Labour Party had been given a “clear mandate” by voters, saying: “And we will use it to deliver change, to restore service and respect for politics, end the era of noisy performance, tread more lightly on your lives and unite our country.

“Four nations standing together again facing down, as we have so often in our past, the challenges of an insecure world, committed to a calm and patient rebuilding.

“So, with respect and humility, I invite you all to join this Government of service in the mission of national renewal. Our work is urgent and we