Keir Starmer says being Labour leader is 'honour and privilege of my life'

Sir Keir Starmer has said it is the "honour and privilege of my life" to be elected Labour leader.

In a speech after the result was announced, the MP for Holborn and St Pancras, 57, vowed to work "in the national interest" during the coronavirus pandemic.

He also apologised to the Jewish community for the "stain of anti-Semitism" in the party, a crisis that rocked Jeremy Corbyn's election hopes.

"On behalf of the Labour Party, I am sorry, and I will tear out this poison by its roots," he said after winning with 56.2 per cent of the leadership vote.

He 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 a victory speech centred on the escalating Covid-19 crisis, the shadow Brexit secretary also insisted "things are going to have to change" when the pandemic is over, decrying the treatment of NHS staff and saying: "They were last, and now they should be first."

It comes as he accepted an offer from Boris Johnson to work together to overcome the "national emergency", but pledged to "shine a torch on critical issues".

“Our willingness to come together like this as a nation has been lying dormant for too long. When millions of us stepped out onto our doorsteps to applaud the carers, visibly moved, there was hope of a better future," he added.

"This crisis has brought out the resilience and human spirit in all of us. We must go forward with a vision of a better society built on that resilience, and built on that human spirit."

The former lawyer, who became an MP in 2015 and formerly led the Crown Prosecution Service, won on the first round of voting in the leadership contest, defeating rivals Lisa Nandy and Rebecca Long-Bailey.

Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary, has been elected deputy leader.​

In a tribute to his predecessor, Sir Keir said Mr Corbyn had led the party through "some really difficult times" and had "energised our movement".

Mr Corbyn announced he would step down after leading Labour to its worst election defeat since 1935, a state of affairs that Sir Keir said showed Labour is "failing in our historic purpose".

He added: "Our mission has to be to restore trust in our party as a force for good, and a force for change."

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