STORY: Starmer officially becomes Britain's new PM
SHOOTING TIME: July 5, 2024
DATELINE: July 5, 2024
LENGTH: 0:01:42
LOCATION: London
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. STANDUP (English): ZHAO XIUZHI, Xinhua Correspondent
2. various of the media 
3. various of Keir Starmer and his wife at a polling station
4. SOUNDBITE (English): RISHI SUNAK
5. various of the No 10 Downing Street

STORYLINE:

STANDUP (English): ZHAO XIUZHI, Xinhua Correspondent
"I'm in No 10 Downing Street. The Labour Party, headed by Keir Starmer, has won an outright majority in the lower house of the British parliament in the general election."

Keir Starmer, who led the Labour Party to achieve a landslide victory in Britain's general election, officially became the new prime minister after meeting with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace in London on Friday.
  
"Our country has voted decisively for change and a return of politics to public service," Starmer said in his first speech as prime minister in front of 10 Downing Street.
   
However, "changing a country is not like flicking a switch," said Starmer, noting that the world has become "more volatile."
   
He said the work to change will begin immediately but will take a while.
   
The new prime minister highlighted his focus on things that "working-class families like mine can build their lives around." He pledged to get the country's struggling healthcare system back on track, secure the British borders, and attend to the need for schools and affordable homes.

Earlier Friday, Rishi Sunak resigned as British prime minister. He will also step down as leader of the Conservative Party after the Tories lost heavily to the Labour Party in the general election.

SOUNDBITE (English): RISHI SUNAK
"Good morning, I will shortly be seeing His Majesty the King to offer my resignation as prime minister. To the country, I would like to say first and foremost, I am sorry. I have given this job my all. But you have sent a clear signal that the government of the United Kingdom must change and yours is the only judgment that matters. I have heard your anger, your disappointment and I take responsibility for this loss."
  
Vote counting for Thursday's election is still ongoing. Out of the 650 seats in parliament, the Labour has secured 412 seats while the Conservatives have won 121. Labour's parliamentary majority marks the end of the Conservatives' 14-year rule. 

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from London.
(XHTV)