Newly-elected UK PM promises ‘immediate reset’
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer holds a press conference at the end of his cabinet's first meeting in Downing Street in London on July 6, 2024. (AFP Photo)
Newly-elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer initiated a whistlestop tour across the United Kingdom on Sunday, pledging an “immediate reset” of relations with the devolved governments of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This tour comes in the wake of a decisive electoral victory that saw his Labour Party gain significant ground.
In Edinburgh, Starmer was scheduled to meet with Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney, leader of the pro-separatist Scottish National Party (SNP), before heading to Cardiff and Belfast on Monday.
The meeting follows a significant electoral shift, where the SNP experienced substantial losses, securing only nine seats out of their previous 57. Swinney described the election outcome as “very, very difficult and damaging” for his party, which had aimed to win 29 seats to mandate renewed independence referendum negotiations with the British government.
Under former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair, the devolution of power led to the establishment of parliaments or national assemblies in Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast in the late 1990s. However, leaders of these regions have since felt increasingly marginalized under Conservative rule.
Starmer aims to transform disagreements into cooperation, emphasizing a genuine partnership approach. “That begins today with an immediate reset of my government’s approach to working with the first and deputy first ministers because meaningful cooperation centered on respect will be key to delivering change across our United Kingdom,” Starmer said.
The devolved administrations hold authority over various policy areas, including education and housing, while the national defense, international relations, and the monarchy remain under the jurisdiction of the UK-wide Westminster parliament in London.
Swinney expressed a forward-looking stance toward discussions on shared priorities such as eradicating child poverty, economic growth, prioritizing net zero, and ensuring effective public services. The SNP, which dominated Scottish politics for the last three UK elections, has faced challenges as public sentiment shifted.
Criticism has mounted over the party’s focus on independence over pressing issues like the cost-of-living crisis, education, and health. Additionally, the SNP’s support has declined amid a financial scandal involving former leader Nicola Sturgeon and her husband, Peter Murrell, who faces embezzlement charges.
Starmer’s tour also serves as a precursor to his upcoming debut on the international stage at a NATO summit in Washington next week. Concurrently, Foreign Minister David Lammy embarked on his first official trip to Berlin, discussing NATO support for Ukraine and Middle Eastern affairs with his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock.
Earlier on Sunday, former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair urged Starmer to develop a plan for controlling immigration, cautioning against the threat posed by the anti-immigration Reform UK Party. Blair advocated for the introduction of digital ID to manage immigration effectively, a suggestion later dismissed by Business Minister Jonathan Reynolds.
As Starmer embarks on his UK tour, the new Prime Minister’s efforts to reset relations with devolved governments are set to shape the future political landscape and his administration’s approach to unity and cooperation across the United Kingdom.
