Sir Keir Starmer elected as new Labour leader

[T_i_B]

Congratulations to Sir Keir. The really difficult task starts here.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52164589

Sir Keir Starmer has been elected as the new leader of the Labour Party.

The 57-year old defeated Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy in a ballot of party members, trade unionists and registered supporters and will succeed Jeremy Corbyn as opposition leader.

The lawyer, who became an MP in 2015, won on the first round of voting, with 56.2% of ballots cast.

He said his task was to "lead this great party into a new era, with confidence and hope". In a video message released by the party, he said it was an "honour and privilege" to have been elected and he hoped Labour "when the time comes can serve our country again - in government".

[Soph0571]

1. Surprise!

I wanted Lisa but at this point, people need to rally round and speak with a coherent voice to become and opposition that can put some breaks on this government.

It has been a long process but we all need to back him - and the factions that fail to do that need to be kicked out.

[T_i_B]

2. I thought Sir Keir was the best of an uninspiring bunch

I certainly wasn't bowled over by Lisa Nandy or Long-Bailey.

I strongly agree however about the factional nonsense that dominated the party during Corbyn's tenure as leader. That was something that I encountered first hand during the 2016 referendum and turned me away from Labour pretty decisively.

Also, Angela Rayner has been elected deputy Labour leader.

[Laelth]

3. k&r for Labour. At last, the reign of Corbyn has come to an end. I wish you well. n/t

-Laelth

[bronxiteforever]

4. +1 exactly.

[Dworkin]

5. Nearly there

Folks,

IMHO Starmer is the best of the contenders, but there is still something in his persona and the timbre of his voice that sounds - sorry to say this - a bit weak and complainy. I just wish that modern labour could come up with a proper blue collar bruiser, someone who would be respected and liked down on the trading estate.

D.

[Matilda]

6. What you said

about blue collar Labour; I was surprised to see a knight become Labour leader.

I thought anyone with a title had to renounce it if they were running for Labour leadership. I'm sure Labour has come a long way from its worker roots, just as ours has, but it still surprised me.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. He got the knighthood for his work as Director of Public Prosecutions

a position to which he was surprisingly appointed, after his work as a human rights lawyer.

After qualifying for the bar, he acted exclusively as a defence lawyer specialising in human rights issues, before being appointed as a Queen's Counsel (QC) in 2002. In 2008, he became Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for England and Wales, and Head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), holding these roles until 2013. For his role as Director of Public Prosecutions, Starmer was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2014 New Year Honours.
...
Keir Rodney Starmer was born in Southwark, London, on 2 September 1962 and grew up in the small town of Oxted in Surrey. He was one of five children of Josephine (née Baker), a nurse, and Rodney Starmer, a toolmaker. His mother had Still's disease. His parents were both firm Labour Party supporters, and named him after the first Labour Party MP, Keir Hardie.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keir_Starmer

[LeftishBrit]

8. It's not that sort of title

He's not a baronet. He was awarded the knighthood for public services at one point.

[Matilda]

9. Thanks for the explanation.