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Sir Keir Starmer has praised Diane Abbott in his first speech in the Commons as prime minister.
Addressing the new mother of the House, he said she “has done so much in her many years to fight for a parliament that truly represents modern Britain”.
Ms Abbott later told the Commons: “I would also like to congratulate the 304 new members of Parliament, who entered Parliament after this election and say to them, it is a great job and you will never regret coming here.”
In his first speech as Leader of the Opposition, Rishi Sunak described being an MP as the “greatest honour, privilege and responsibility” and added: “One of the great aspects of our system is no matter how high you rise, you still have that constituency which keeps you grounded.”
It comes as the Labour government has ditched the phrase “levelling up” as Sir Keir met with England’s metro mayors this morning.
Secretary of state Angela Rayner said Labour will govern in the nation’s interest, without gimmicks and slogans.
“A government of public service means fixing the fundamentals to deliver for the British people,” she said.
Green Party co-leader hopes Parliament can move to ‘less tribal form of politics’
Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay congratulated speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle on his appointment and added: “I can already say on behalf of the new cohort of Green MPs that we have been very pleased with the support you have given us when you’ve shown that you go out of your way to support new members in this House and support MPs of all parties to be able to hold the Government to account and represent (their) constituents.”
“May I associate myself with the remarks of the Prime Minister about the importance of politics being about public service?
“And I very much hope in this new Parliament, we can all move to a less tribal form of politics where we work together where we can agree and move things forward in the national interest.”
Sorcha-Lucy Eastwood says her presence in Commons reflects a ‘changing’ Northern Ireland
Alliance MP Sorcha-Lucy Eastwood said her presence in the Commons demonstrates a “changing” Northern Ireland, meanwhile Traditional Unionist Voice MP Jim Allister said he would be on his “best behaviour”.
Speaking in the Commons, the Lagan Valley said: “My presence here demonstrates a changing, more-shared and integrating Northern Ireland, and of that in alliance we are very proud.”
She added: “All of us in this House do owe a debt of gratitude to our constituents, I will never forget the constituents of Lagan Valley and I join with everybody in the whole House in looking forward to committing to public service for all.”
Addressing the re-elected speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Mr Allister said: “With me on my best behaviour, and you at your tolerant best, I trust that we will have a mutually cordially relationship going forward. I will certainly draw upon your guidance and the experience that you bring to this House.”
Mr Allister told the Commons he has a “very clear message” that “Northern Ireland’s place within this United Kingdom must be restored”.
The North Antrim MP added: “We must end the partitioning of our kingdom by a foreign border, and we must end a situation where 300 areas of law in Northern Ireland are not controlled by this House, not controlled by Stormont, but controlled by a foreign Parliament, that is an appalling constitutional afront. And my focus in this House will be in playing my part in seeking to redress that gross inequity.”
Reform UK leader says his party ‘has no experience in this Parliament’
Reform UK leader and first time MP Nigel Farage said his party were “the new kids on the block.”
He continued: “We have no experience in this Parliament whatsoever, even though some of us have tried many times over the years previously.”
Eliciting groans from the Government benches, Mr Farage compared speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to his predecessor John Bercow.
He said: “We absolutely endorse (Sir Lindsay) entirely for this job. And it is, I must say, in marked contrast to the little man that was there before you and besmirched the office so dreadfully in doing his best to overturn the biggest democratic result in the history of the country. We support you Sir fully.”
DUP leader Gavin Robinson also welcomed Sir Lindsay Hoyle, making reference to his earlier mention of DUP MP Jim Shannon.
He said: “Congratulations Mr Speaker-elect, we are thrilled to see you back in your seat but for those new members of parliament who have yet to understand just how this place works, some of them will learn through time that Jim Shannon needed no further encouragement.”
Starmer pays tributes to colleagues past and present
Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to colleagues past and present as he made his first appearance in the House of Commons since becoming Prime Minister.
His arrival in the Commons chamber on Tuesday was greeted by a standing ovation from the Labour benches, and he shared a brief word with his predecessor, Rishi Sunak, before the pair took their seats.
Sir Keir gave the first speech responding to the unanimous re-election of Sir Lindsay Hoyle as Commons Speaker, beginning with a tribute to former Conservative MP Craig Mackinlay.
Now Lord Mackinlay, the former MP had both his hands and feet amputated after contracting sepsis and decided not to fight his seat at last week’s election due to his ongoing recovery.
The Prime Minister said: “All of those returning will remember, as I do, the speech he gave just a few weeks ago which was inspiring and moving and we wish him well.”
He went on to welcome the 335 new MPs and thank Tory MP Sir Edward Leigh, who, as the MP with the longest continuous service, is Father of the House and oversaw Sir Lindsay’s re-election.
SNP Westminster leader welcomes new members to the House
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has welcomed new members to the Commons.
He said: “I wish to begin by welcoming all new members to the chamber, in particular those members from Scottish constituencies.
“There’s probably a few more new members from Scottish constituencies than I would like to have seen, but I do look forward to working constructively with you to deliver in the best interests of the people that we are all so fortunate to represent.”
Referring to disagreements with speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle over the SNP’s opposition day, Mr Flynn said: “I think it’s safe to say that me and you didn’t always see eye to eye during the course of the last parliament but in politics and in life, I think it’s important to let bygones be bygones and to focus on the future.”
Sir Ed Davey: ‘We will hold the governement to account’
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey welcomed Sir Lindsay Hoyle and told the Commons his party would hold the Government to account.
He said: “We on these benches will hold the Government to account, that is our job. We will focus on the health and care crisis, we will focus on ending the sewage scandal, we will focus on helping people with a cost of living crisis.”
On his campaign activities Sir Ed said: “Mr Speaker-elect has always been a real champion for the security and safety of all members and all our staff as well as looking after our health and welfare. We are grateful to you for doing that.
“Sir, just yesterday, you asked after my health following my active campaign and the House may be interested to know that after I reassured you about my health you expressed real enthusiasm about bungee jumping.”
Starmer praises Abbott in Parliament
Sir Keir Starmer has praised Diane Abbott in his first speech in the Commons as prime minister.
Addressing the new mother of the House, he said she “has done so much in her many years to fight for a parliament that truly represents modern Britain”.
Ms Abbott told the Commons: “I would also like to congratulate the 304 new members of Parliament, who entered Parliament after this election and say to them, it is a great job and you will never regret coming here.
“I would also like to congratulate the officers of the House who have organised such a meticulous and careful induction, I remember when I was a new MP, they just gave you a bunch of keys and told you to get on with it.”
She added: “When I was a new member in 1987, there were only 40 female members of Parliament. Today we have 264, and some of us are glad that we have lived to see this. And I can’t speak about the increased numbers of female members of Parliament without referencing my predecessor Baroness Harriet Harman, who did so much to work to have an equal and diverse House.”
Nigel Farage makes first speech in Commons as MP
Nigel Farage has made his speech as an MP for the first time in the Commons, as he stood to some jeers.
Calling himself and his colleagues the “new kids on the block”, he used his speech to give his full endorsement to Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
Suank makes first speech as Leader of the Opposition
Rishi Sunak has made his first speech to Parliament as Leader of the Opposition.
He said: “Can I start by congratulating the Prime Minister on his election victory and as he takes on his formidable task, he and his family deserve the good wishes of all of us in this House?
“In our politics, we can argue vigorously, as the Prime Minister and I did over the past six weeks, but still respect each other, and whatever disputes we 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, and advance the principles that we honourably believe in.”
Mr Sunak described being an MP as the “greatest honour, privilege and responsibility” and added: “One of the great aspects of our system is no matter how high you rise, you still have that constituency which keeps you grounded.”
PM vows to ‘put an end to self-obsessed politics’
Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to “put an end to a politics that has too often seemed self-serving and self-obsessed”.
In his first Commons speech as Prime Minister, he said: “And now, as in any new Parliament, we have the opportunity and the responsibility to put an end to a politics that has too often seemed self-serving and self-obsessed, and to replace that politics of performance with the politics of service.
“Because service is a precondition for hope and trust, and the need to restore trust should weigh heavily on every member here, new and returning alike.
“We all have a duty to show that politics can be a force for good.
“So whatever our political differences, it’s not time to turn the page, unite in a common endeavour of national renewal and make this Parliament a Parliament of service.”
