Keir Starmer pledged to prove his “doubters” wrong as he responded to growing calls for him to step down.
The British prime minister said Labour would “be better and do better” after the party suffered heavy election losses across England, Scotland and Wales last week, reports Breaking News.
Describing the election outcome as “tough”, he told an audience in central London: “I get it, I feel it, and I take responsibility.
“But it’s not just about taking responsibility for the results. It’s about taking responsibility to explain how, as a political and electoral force, we will be better and do better in the months and years ahead”, reports Breaking News.
He added: “I know I have my doubters, and I know I need to prove them wrong, and I will.”
Starmer also warned his party that Britain was “not just facing dangerous times, but dangerous opponents, very dangerous opponents”, reports Breaking News.
He said: “This hurts, not just because Labour has done badly, but because if we don’t get this right, our country will go down a very dark path.”
Starmer’s speech on Monday was presented as an effort to outline major reforms aimed at tackling the “big challenges” facing the UK and strengthening support for his leadership, reports Breaking News.
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The prime minister promised to deepen his “reset” with the European Union, saying his government would focus on placing Britain at the “heart of Europe”.
He also pledged to introduce “an ambitious youth experience scheme” with the EU so that “our young people can work and study and live in Europe, a symbol of a stronger relationship and a fairer future with our closest allies”, reports Breaking News.
At home, Starmer committed to bringing forward legislation to nationalise British Steel, saying a commercial sale of the Scunthorpe steel plant had not been achievable since the government assumed control of the site last year.
He also vowed to stop “far-right agitators” from entering the UK ahead of a march planned for Saturday, saying the event was “designed to confront and intimidate”, reports Breaking News.
The prime minister’s speech follows a weekend of speculation over possible leadership challenges, after former minister Catherine West suggested she would attempt to remove Starmer if no Cabinet member stepped forward.
Starmer said he would contest any leadership challenge and insisted he would not “walk away”, reports Breaking News.
However, he declined to say whether he would support an effort by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to return to Parliament, saying the decision rested with Labour’s national executive committee (NEC).
The NEC, which is largely made up of Starmer supporters, blocked Burnham’s attempt earlier this year to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election, which ultimately saw Labour finish third behind the Greens and Reform UK, reports Breaking News.
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