HUNDREDS of fresh-faced Labor MPs crammed into the House of Commons today to give new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer a hero’s welcome.
The army of “Starmtroopers” squeezed into the government benches to call the Parliament of 2024 and see their leader speak into the dispatch box for the first time as Prime Minister.
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They faced a range of opposition MPs led by defeated Conservative leader Rishi Sunak – who wished his successor well.
His group of 121 Conservatives was forced to sit side by side with a resurgent 72 Liberal Democrats, nine SNPs and five Reform MPs.
Nigel Farage led his “Famous Five” to Westminster today – with Lee Anderson declaring that “the foxes were in the hen house”.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle was re-elected unopposed as Speaker and was “dragged” to his seat, as is tradition – since when the job was unenviable because many lost their minds.
In his first speech to the House of Commons as Prime Minister, Sir Keir said: “Now, as a new Parliament, we have the opportunity and responsibility to put an end to a policy that is too often seen as selfish and self-obsessed.
“And replace that performance policy with the service policy, because service is a precondition for trust.
“And the need to restore trust must weigh heavily on all members here, both new and returning. We all have a duty to show that politics can be a force for good.”
Sunak repeated his apology to former Conservative MPs who lost their seats in last week’s election defeat.
But in a worthy first speech as Leader of the Opposition, he buried the hatchet with Sir Keir after a grueling campaign.
He said: “As he takes on his formidable task, he and his family deserve the good wishes of us all.
“In our politics, we can argue vigorously as the Prime Minister and I have done over the last six weeks, but still respect each other.
“And whatever disputes we may have in this Parliament, I know that everyone in this House will not lose sight of the fact that we are all motivated by our desire to serve our constituents, our country…”
He noted that “one of the great aspects of our system is that no matter how high you climb, you still have that constituency that keeps you grounded.”
Sunak also insisted that it is “important” that after 14 years of government, “the Conservative Party rebuilds itself” to “take on the crucial role of Her Majesty’s Official Opposition in a professional, effective and humble way”.
New Commons Shows Starmtroopers Are in Charge Now
By JACK ELSOM, Chief Political Correspondent
Not even the July rain could dampen the spirits of the 421 Labor MPs, who took control of the House of Commons today for the first time in 14 years.
The changing of the guard in our political system involves physically changing sides in the House.
And so Sir Keir Starmer and his cabinet have perfectly occupied the government bench where Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives sat just six weeks ago.
Behind them were hundreds of their MPs – new and old – who cheered the first Labor prime minister to hold the post since Gordon Brown.
As many people as possible squeezed side by side into the government side of the chamber – but dozens were still forced to sprawl across the floor because of its enormous mass.
The new-look Commons image shows the electoral earthquake that occurred last week.
For the Conservatives, the scale of their defeat became clear when they crowded into half the opposition benches.
Although vastly outnumbered, Sir Ed Davey’s Liberal Democrats were happy with their swollen ranks of 72.
And although he led just a clan of five, Nigel Farage looked like the cat who won the cream when he stood up after a decades-long battle to be elected.
But there is no doubt that this is now Starmer’s Commons, filled with Labor MPs molded in his image.
The Starmtroopers are in charge now.
Farage – who was finally elected MP last week on his eighth attempt – said Reform UK were “the new kids on the block”.
“We have no experience in this Parliament, although some of us have tried many times to get here.”
Paying tribute to the President, he said: “It is quite clear to everyone that you act with great neutrality, that you have acquired enormous dignity for the role of President, that is why we fully support you for this work.”
Taking a dig at former Speaker John Bercow, Farage said Sir Lindsay was in stark contrast to “the little man who was there before you”.
Referring to the Brexit years, Farage accused Bercow of doing “his best to nullify the biggest democratic vote in the history of this country”.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
