General Election RECAP: Keir Starmer holds press conference after first Cabinet meeting as recount takes place in final seat and Tory leadership battle commences

Follow below for a full recap of today's events.

They say every vote counts and in some constituencies this has been proven to great effect over the last couple of days, with just dozens of votes separating the winning candidates and runner-ups.

Nowhere was this more keenly shown than in Hendon in northwest London, where Labour pipped the Conservatives by just 15 votes.

In total there were seven constituecies where there were fewer than 100 votes in it, indicating the fine margins when it comes to the results.

It could also leave some MPs in precarious positions come the next General Election if things don't go their party's way.

Here is a list of the 20 MPs with the smallest majorities in the UK:

• David Pinto-Duschinsky (Labour, Hendon): 15
• Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour, Poole): 18
• Richard Holden (Conservative, Basildon & Billericay): 20
• Sam Carling (Labour, Cambridgeshire North West): 39
• Mel Stride (Conservative, Devon Central): 61
• Alan Mak (Conservative, Havant): 92
• James McMurdock (Reform, Basildon South & East Thurrock): 98
• Andrew Pakes (Labour, Peterborough) 118
• David Reed (Conservative, Exmouth & Exeter East) 121
• Graham Stuart (Conservative, Beverley & Holderness): 124
• Adnan Hussain (Independent, Blackburn): 132
• Ben Coleman (Labour, Chelsea & Fulham) 152
• Gregory Campbell (DUP, Londonderry East) 179
• Luke Myer (Labour, Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland) 214
• Matt Bishop (Labour, Forest of Dean) 278
• Peter Fortune (Conservative, Bromley & Biggin Hill) 302
• John Whitby (Labour, Derbyshire Dales) 350
• Kevin McKenna (Labour, Sittingbourne & Sheppey) 355
• Jim Allister (TUV, Antrim North) 450
• Charlotte Cane (Lib Dems, Ely & East Cambridgeshire) 495

Sir Keir Starmer's ministers outlined their priorities at the first Labour Cabinet meeting earlier today. Among the goals on the agenda are:

• Chancellor Rachel Reeves focusing on 'stability, investment and reform' to boost economic growth and to 'raise living standards and make working people better-off'.
• Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said becoming a 'clean energy superpower'would be his focus.
• Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the government believes that the NHS is 'currently broken' and reform is needed with the target to create 'a fairer society where everyone lives well for longer'.
• Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said delivering more neighbourhood police, tackling knife crime and launching a new border security command would be 'an immediate priority'.
• Deputy Prime Minister and Levelling Up Secretary Ms Rayner said 'the Government would reset relationships with regional metro mayors starting with a meeting she and the Prime Minister would hold this Tuesday'.
• Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that 'forging strong relations abroad would help to support the Government's mission delivery here at home' ahead of the NATO summit next week.

David Lammy has said Keir Starmer's government wants a balanced position on the war in the Middle East and will use diplomatic efforts to ensure a ceasefire is reached and hostages held by Palestinian militant group Hamas are released.

The new Foreign Secretary is on a visit to Germany, where he met his counterpart Annalena Baerbock, just a day after taking on the role.

Speaking in Berlin, he said: 'The time has come for the United Kingdom to reconnect with the outside world.

'I want to get back to a balanced position on Israel and Gaza. We've been very clear that we want to see a ceasefire ... We want to see those hostages out.'

He added: 'The fighting has to stop, the aid has got to get in, and I will use all diplomatic efforts to ensure that we get to that ceasefire.'

Lammy also said Britain would seek to reset its position globally on issues including the climate crisis as well as key relationships, such as with European and emerging powers.

'Let us put the Brexit years behind us ... there's much that we can do together,' Lammy said, pointing to a previously floated idea of a UK-EU security pact.

With that result coming through in the Scottish Highlands around an hour ago, the map showing the outcome of the election can be filled in completely.

The top map shows how Labour has taken seats by expanding out from its urban heartlands and has gone someway to rebuilding the 'Red Wall' which has historically given it its support.

It also shows the party's resurgence in central Scotland at the expense of the SNP, and across north and south Wales, both traditional Labour heartlands.

It also shows how the Liberal Democrats have surged to their highest ever tally by targeting Tory seats in the south, south west and east of England.

The second map shows a hexagonal map of the final make-up of seats (minus the two which are yet to declare) in which every constituency is given the same shape and size. This gives a more easy-to-understand view of how Labour got its majority.

You can look through our interactive maps by clicking here.

Sir Keir Starmer has also spoken to German chancellor Olaf Scholz on a busy first full day in office.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said the Prime Minister had told Mr Sholz he was looking forward to 'taking the relationship to the next level' during his premiership.

'The leaders discussed the strong connection between the UK and Germany, and the Prime Minister said he looked forward to taking the relationship to the next level during his premiership,' the spokeswoman said.

'The Prime Minister said he believed there was opportunity to further deepen the defence and security ties between both countries, while also building greater economic co-operation.

'Discussing their upcoming visit to the Nato summit in Washington, the leaders reflected on the importance of ensuring strong support to Ukraine for the long term.

'The leaders looked forward to meeting in person next week.'

Sir Keir Starmer discussed the importance of the European Political Community and NATO summits with Emmanuel Macron, Downing Street has said.

A spokeswoman said of the call on Saturday: 'The Prime Minister spoke to the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, this afternoon.

'The French president began by congratulating the Prime Minister and wished him well for his new government.

'Turning to the bilateral relationship, the Prime Minister and president looked forward to furthering the close co-operation between the UK and France.

'The leaders discussed the upcoming NATO and European Political Community summits, underlining the importance of these early opportunities to discuss shared priorities, including the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, climate, artificial intelligence, migration and the economy.

'Both looked forward to seeing each other in the coming days.'

With their victory in the last election result to be announced, the Lib Dems are celebrating a return to form in one of their old stomping grounds.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats had long been a force to reckon with in the Highlands, but they were almost entirely wiped out during the 2015 General Election by the rising SNP.

The constituency of Ross, Skye and Lochaber was held by former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy, before it was taken by high profile SNP figure Ian Blackford in 2015.

Today they retook the seat - which has been renamed Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire after a boundary change - with Angus MacDonald (pictured) earning a majority of 2,160 over Drew Hendry of the SNP, who had conceded that he would not win the seat.

The final result in the General Election was announced at around 6pm on Saturday, 44 hours after the polls closed at 10pm on Thursday evening.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: 'My heart is in the highlands today. The Liberal Democrats were all but wiped out in 2015, but that wasn't the worst thing to happen to us that year. Weeks later we lost Charles Kennedy.

'That the final act of this General Election should see his old seat returned to Lib Dem hands and the care of Angus MacDonald is simply wonderful.

'I'm overjoyed that Angus has become the sensational sixth Scottish Liberal Democrat MP.'

New Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn (pictured centre) has met with Michelle O'Neill (pictured right) and Emma Little-Pengelly (pictured left) at Hillsborough Castle in Co Down.

In his first visit to the region since taking the position, Mr Benn also met with representatives of other Stormont parties.

He said: 'I wanted to get to work as quickly as possible and was therefore pleased to be able to hold these initial discussions with the First and deputy First Ministers, and representatives from the other parties.

'My immediate priorities are to establish a new relationship between the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive as we work together to foster economic growth and prosperity, and to improve public services.

'I want to ensure that we have a system in place for addressing the legacy of the past in a way that wins support from victims' families and that all communities can have confidence in, and which is compliant with human rights.'

Mr Benn said that the new UK Government was firmly committed to the Belfast Good Friday Agreement.

He added: 'We will work hard to deliver its vision for reconciliation, equality, respect for rights and parity of esteem.'

The Secretary of State said his meeting with the First Minister and deputy First Minister was 'very constructive'.

'I look forward to building on our relationship in the months ahead,' he said.

With all 650 results finally declared, the overall turnout at the General Election has been tallied at 59.9%.

This is down sharply from 67.3% at the last election in 2019.

It is the lowest turnout at a general election since 2001, when it stood at 59.4%.

It is also the second lowest turnout since the Second World War.

James Timpson was one of the more surprising names announced as part of Keir Starmer's new cabinet yesterday.

The Timpsons CEO was named as the new minister for Prisons, Parole and Probation despite not being an MP at all.

However, the entrepreneur has a long track record of advocating for reforms to the UK prison system, and his firm regularly takes on ex-cons as workers once they are released from jail.

Earlier this year he argued that 'a lot' of inmates 'shouldn't be in prison' and should instead be given community sentences.

You can see his full remarks in the article below:

The final result of the 2024 General Election has arrived.

After a recount earlier today, the Liberal Democrats have been declared the winners of Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire.

A new seat after the boundaries were redrawn by the electoral commission, this was expected to be a two-way fight between the Lib Dems and the SNP who won the constituency under its old boundaries in 2019 with a majority of nearly 10,000.

However, the collapse of the SNP was further compounded here after Lib Dem candidate Angus MacDonald gained a majority of 2,160 over Scottish Nationalist challenger Drew Hendry.

Former minister Stuart Andrew (pictured) has been announced as the interim Tory chief whip.

Rishi Sunak made the appointment as part of his duties overseeing the transition of the Conservatives into Opposition after their general election rout.

The Tories said the move would allow them to 'hold (the Labour Government) to account immediately'.

Mr Andrew said: 'I am delighted to have been appointed as Opposition chief whip.

'I know there will be much frustration within the party about the disappointing election results we saw this week. Our focus now more than ever must be to come together as a united party.

'We will be ready and willing to provide the strong and effective Opposition to the Government that the British public deserves.'

Labour ministers gathered in Downing Street today for the first Cabinet meeting of Keir Starmer's government.

Shabana Mahmood has said it is the 'greatest honour of my life' to be appointed Justice Secretary.

The MP for Birmingham Ladywood, who is a qualified barrister, tweeted that the justice system faces 'deep challenges' as she began her first full day in the job.

She wrote: 'The greatest honour of my life to walk into @MoJGovUK as the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice yesterday.

'Before politics, I was a lawyer. I understand the deep challenges facing our justice system. But there is so much we can do. The hard work starts now.'

Whether or not Sir Keir Starmer settles a pay deal with junior doctors and removes the two-child benefit cap will be 'a litmus test for the direction this Government plans to travel', the Green Party has said.

The Greens are also calling for Labour to bring criminal charges against water companies for persistent sewage dumping, make solar panels compulsory on all new suitable homes and introduce a 'natural history' GCSE.

The party said Sir Keir must 'recognise the state of Palestine and end arms sales to all countries where there's a serious risk of them being used in breach of international law'.

It is not a Labour manifesto pledge to scrap the two-child benefit cap and its resistance to commit to axing the measure has riled some on the party's left flank as well as anti-poverty campaigners.

Green co-leader Carla Denyer said: 'Keir Starmer promised change. So, today we've outlined a sketch of what immediate change looks like.'

Co-leader Adrian Ramsay said: 'Are they serious about defending the environment and restoring public services, or are we going to see more managed decline on an already broken system?'

Sir Keir Starmer's first Cabinet is the most diverse on record in terms of education background, analysis has shown.

The majority of the Prime Minister's top team - 23 Cabinet ministers, or 92 per cent of the total - attended comprehensive schools, according to research by social mobility charity the Sutton Trust.

Sir Keir said he was proud to have Cabinet ministers who 'didn't have the easiest of starts in life' and reflect the 'aspiration' at the heart of Britain when the diverse educational backgrounds of his top team were referenced during a press conference at Downing Street today.

He told journalists: 'I'm really proud of the fact that my Cabinet reflects the aspiration that I believe lies at the heart of our country.

'That aspiration that so many people have, wherever they started from, to make a journey in life for themselves, for their families, their communities, and ultimately for their country.'

The public has reacted with scorn to Sir Keir Starmer's first speech as Prime Minister.

The Labour PM's measured tone especially tickled some viewers - including one who thought he sounded like a tired mother during a holiday trip with the kids.

Others thought he sounded like a headteacher reading out the canteen rules and was 'painfully dull' with 'all platitudes and no detail'.

Here's the full story on MailOnline:

While her husband Prime Minister Keir Starmer convened his first Cabinet meeting today, Victoria Starmer has been spotted at Sandown Park racecourse.

She was there to watch the Coral-Eclipse, one of British horseracing's most prestigious races, on day two of the Coral Summer Festival in Esher, Surrey.

It's a common complaint from younger generations that the politicians of today rarely understand life from their point of view.

But the success of one MP in Thursday night's general election will surely leave many of those critics without a leg to stand on.

As Britain's first MP to be born in the 21st Century, Labour's Sam Carling is now the youngest Commons member, leading him to affectionately be known as the 'Baby of the House'.

Read all about his journey to the House of Commons in this story on MailOnline:

Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to personally chair new 'mission delivery boards' to 'put into action' Labour's manifesto commitments.

The cross-departmental panels are expected to be set up to make progress on the party's five key pledges - to drive economic growth, reform the NHS, invest in clean energy, reform the crime and justice system, and improve opportunity through a new skills agenda.

The Prime Minister said he would head the boards himself to emphasise his focus on pursuing the plans central to Labour's first term in government.

After the first gathering of his top team, Sir Keir told a Downing Street press conference today: 'At the Cabinet meeting I also discussed mission delivery, how we would put into action the plans that we have set out in our manifesto, and that we will have mission delivery boards to drive through the change that we need, and that I will be chairing those boards to make sure that it's clear to everyone that they are my priority in Government.'

The entities are expected to draw on private sector expertise and could include outside experts as well as politicians.

Sir Keir's chief of staff Sue Gray, who spent years at the top of the Civil Service, is set to oversee delivery from inside No 10.

Triumphant new MP Nigel Farage has been all smiles since his election success, and was pictured today continuing the celebrations with his signature pint of beer in tow.

Read the full story on MailOnline after the Reform UK party leader chatted with people at Wyldecrest Sports Country Club in Corringham, Essex, around an hour’s drive from his new seat:

A Conservative politician who lost his seat in the General Election has jokingly asked whether Big Brother is still 'looking for people'.

Brendan Clarke-Smith was unseated as the MP for Bassetlaw in Nottinghamshire by Labour candidate Jo White after she received nearly 6,000 more votes on Thursday.

Following the defeat, Mr Clarke-Smith jokingly threw his hat into the ring for the next series of the ITV reality show.

He responded to a post on X which claimed that Big Brother was looking for a 'big political name' to take part in this year's series.

Mr Clarke-Smith replied: 'Don't suppose they are still looking for people?'

He jokingly added that the hyphen in his surname makes it a 'big name'.

Nigel Farage has spoken today about yesterday's event where he was joined by his fellow parliamentarians.

He said the press conference, which was disrupted by protesters, was 'full-on theatre'.

Mr Farage said: 'Well, it was full-on theatre wasn't it. We had protesters, I probably enjoyed it more than they did.

'But no, I mean, look, the one thing about press conferences that I do, complete contrast to what Sunak and Starmer have been doing, is we take questions from any press organisation, we're not afraid of anything.'

Asked how he would sell proportional representation to the public, Mr Farage said: 'Well, the fact that for every Reform MP there are 800,000 voters, and for every Labour MP there are 30,000 voters suggests something is very badly, fundamentally wrong.'

He added: 'We have five MPs, PR would have given us 97 MPs, but we are where we are.'

Asked who he would like to see as Conservative Party leader, Mr Farage said: 'Honestly, I don't think it matters who they pick as leader. This party is split down the middle, they call it a broad church, well, it's a broad church with no common shared religion.'

Mr Farage said Reform is 'going to do very, very well' in the Senedd election and based on how it performed in Scotland during the General Election, the party would 'very much be in the territory of winning seats in the Scottish Parliament too'.

Nigel Farage said his aim is to 'build a mass movement for real change leading up to the next sets of elections'.

Speaking from Wyldecrest Sports Country Club in Essex, the Reform UK leader said: 'We will do what we can with five in Parliament, what I will do for certain is provide real opposition in the country.

'And my aim and ambition is to build a mass movement for real change, leading up to the next sets of elections.'

Britons who ditched the Conservatives in previously-safe Tory seats have told MailOnline how they voted for Reform UK – but ended up with Labour.

Some right-wing voters even admitted ignoring warnings on tactical voting because they could not bear to back Rishi Sunak's party after 14 years in power.

And Nigel Farage's party was a big beneficiary as it took 4.1million votes across the UK and five seats – while finishing second in 98 other constituencies.

MailOnline has visited three seats in southern England which were previously staunchly Tory, but all received a large Reform vote and have turned red:

Keir Starmer warned of 'tough decisions' looming and tried to stop people calling him 'PM' today as he kicked off his Red revolution.

At his first press conference in Downing Street, the Labour leader said questioners could call him 'Keir' as he acknowledged that his government will be 'judged on actions not on words'.

MailOnline's political editor James Tapsfield has the full story here:

Nigel Farage was asked for his reaction to the Prime Minister scrapping the Rwanda scheme.

And the Reform UK leader said: 'Well he said he would do it, at least he's kept a promise I suppose.

'Look, Rwanda was never going to work. What Keir Starmer is proposing, which is, tackle the gangs, well, frankly, you know, the last Government were doing that for the last few years, it's not going to work.

'At the minute it's wild and windy, but we do have some pretty strong first hand accounts that as soon as we get a calm spell, they'll be crossing the English Channel in their thousands, and let's face it, Keir Starmer does not have a plan to deal with it.'

Nigel Farage said 'with a couple of exceptions', the new Cabinet is 'the most inexperienced people ever to have got into a British cabinet'.

The Reform UK leader was speaking from Wyldecrest Sports Country Club in Essex where he has come to watch East Thurrock Community Football Club's first match.

Asked for his thoughts on Keir Starmer's new Cabinet, Mr Farage said: 'With a couple of exceptions, they are I think the most inexperienced people ever to have got into a British cabinet.

'If you actually look at their life stories, their backgrounds and bear in mind, these are people making executive decisions that fundamentally affect people's lives, I think they're going to find it very, very hard. And I say that because the country faces some really fundamental problems, I suspect this Government could be in trouble pretty quickly.'

Over in Essex, Nigel Farage has posed for photos with locals in the bar of Wyldecrest Sports Country Club and is drinking a pint while chatting to new Reform MP James McMurdock and other locals.

Lots of people of all ages are taking pictures of him in the bar, with a queue forming to meet him.

Mr Farage met a boy who asked him to say "Brexit means Brexit" for him to record on a phone, which the Reform UK leader did.

He then came outside at the football club and was chatting to locals with his pint in one hand and a cigarette in another.

The rain did not stop as he continued to pose for pictures.

Sir Keir Starmer labelled the previous government's Rwanda scheme a 'gimmick' which was 'dead and buried before it started'.

Speaking to the media in Downing Street, the Prime Minster said: 'The Rwanda scheme was dead and buried before it started. It's never been a deterrent.

'Look at the numbers that have come over in the first six and a bit months of this year, they are record numbers, that is the problem that we are inheriting.

'It has never acted as a deterrent, almost the opposite, because everybody has worked out, particularly the gangs that run this, that the chance of ever going to Rwanda was so slim, less than 1%, that it was never a deterrent.

'The chances were of not going and not being processed and staying here, therefore, in paid for accommodation for a very, very long time.

'It's had the complete opposite effect and I'm not prepared to continue with gimmicks that don't act as a deterrent.'

Sir Keir Starmer said it is 'impossible' to say the Government will stop the early release of prisoners.

He told the press conference in Downing Street: 'We've got too many prisoners, not enough prisons.

'That's a monumental failure of the last government on any basic view of government to get to a situation where you haven't got enough prison places for prisoners, doesn't matter what your political stripe, that is a failure of government.

'It's a failure of government to instruct the police not to arrest. This has not had enough attention, in my view, but it's what happened.

'We will fix that, but we can't fix it overnight and therefore it is impossible to simply say we will stop the early release of prisoners and you wouldn't believe me if I did say it.'

Sir Keir Starmer said he was proud to have Cabinet ministers who 'didn't have the easiest of starts in life' and reflect the 'aspiration' at the heart of Britain.

The Prime Minister told journalists at the Downing Street press conference: 'I'm really proud of the fact that my Cabinet reflects the aspiration that I believe lies at the heart of our country.

'That aspiration that so many people have, wherever they started from, to make a journey in life for themselves, for their families, their communities and ultimately for their country.'

Sir Keir had to catch himself referring to the 'shadow cabinet', quickly corrected to say that at the Cabinet meeting, he had told ministers 'I'm proud of the fact that we have people around the Cabinet table who didn't have the easiest of starts in life but to see them sitting in the Cabinet this morning was a proud moment for me and this changed Labour Party and a reinforcement of my belief in that aspiration, which is a value I use to help me make decisions.'

He refused to be drawn on the prospect of further peerages being given to experts, saying: 'I don't want to get ahead of myself. We are making further appointments this afternoon in relation to the front bench.'

Sir Keir Starmer vowed to 'turn our back on tribal politics' because 'that's what's gone wrong' in the last few years.

The Prime Minister said he wanted to 'govern for the whole of the country and take the country forward, and turn our back on tribal politics and simply picking issues we want to fight just for the party politics of it.

'That's what's gone wrong, in my view, in the last few years.'

Sir Keir Starmer said 'we're going to have to take the tough decisions, and take them early' when asked if he would be willing to raise tax to fund public services.

The Prime Minister said he would approach the challenges with a 'raw honesty' but insisted that was 'not a sort of prelude to saying there's some tax decision that we didn't speak about before'.

He told journalists: 'In relation to the tough decisions, we're going to have to take them and take them early. And we will do that with a raw honesty.'

He added: 'But that is not a sort of prelude to saying there's some tax decision that we didn't speak about before that we're going to announce now.

'It's about the tough decisions to fix the problem and being honest about what they are.'

Watch Sir Keir Starmer's full comments as he said the Rwanda deportation scheme under the previous government was a 'gimmick':

Sir Keir Starmer said 'the thing that's changed already is the mindset of the Government' when asked if he could offer one concrete promise to voters about delivery in the first 100 days.

The Prime Minister said: 'It's a mindset of service. Of country first, party second. That's not a slogan, that is the test for all of our decisions.'

Asked how he felt when he saw the exit poll, he said he was 'pleased' but did not believe it until the final results were coming in.

Sir Keir revealed his family were 'not quite unpacked yet' and still finding their way around.

'We'll be moving in soon, but we've a bit of work to do before then and of course I'm off to Washington on Tuesday,' he said.

Sir Keir Starmer said he is 'restless for change' as he was asked how soon he can deliver concrete improvements.

Answering questions from journalists in Downing Street, he said: 'I am restless for change and I think and hope that what you've already seen demonstrates that.'

He said the appointments of Sir Patrick Vallance and business chief James Timpson should demonstrate the party's commitment to change and 'it won't surprise you to know... I've been talking to them for some time about the need for the change that we will put in place.'

'We have been planning for months to hit the ground running,' Sir Keir said.

He said he had held extensive conversations with Cabinet and there will be 'further announcements in the coming days'.

'But, look, it is not an overnight exercise changing the country,' Sir Keir said.

Sir Keir Starmer said his party's victory in the General Election has given Labour a 'clear mandate to govern for all four corners of the United Kingdom'.

The Prime Minister told a press conference in Downing Street: 'We clearly on Thursday got a mandate from all four nations.

'For the first time in 20 plus years we have a majority in England, in Scotland and in Wales and that is a clear mandate to govern for all four corners of the United Kingdom and therefore I shall set off tomorrow to be in all four nations.'

He said he will go first to Scotland, followed by Northern Ireland and then Wales, before returning to England, during which time he will meet First Ministers and 'establish a way of working across the United Kingdom that will be different and better to the way of working that we've had in recent years and to recognise the contributions of all four nations'.

He also told the press: 'I reminded the entire Cabinet that we will be judged on actions not on words.'

It's been less than 24 hours since Keir Starmer was handed the keys to 10 Downing Street and he has already ushered in his new cabinet.

Sir Keir took no time in appointing many of the key players who are set to shape his government - and the country - over the next five years.

While many of those who secured the cabinet roles were unsurprising for most, some of their backgrounds paint a more interesting picture.

Find out more about them in this article on MailOnline:

Sir Keir Starmer said he had set out to his Cabinet 'exactly what I expect of them in terms of standards, delivery, and the trust that the country has put in them'.

The Prime Minister told a press conference in Downing Street it had been a 'moment in history' this morning as some of his top team received their privy seals, which was followed by a meeting in Number 10.

'At that meeting, I had the opportunity to set out to my Cabinet precisely what I expect of them in terms of standards, delivery and the trust that the country has put in them,' Sir Keir said.

He continued: 'And yesterday I met Laurie Magnus, the independent adviser on standards, to discuss how we deliver in Government.

'At the Cabinet meeting I also discussed mission delivery, how we would put into action the plans that we had set out in our manifesto.'

Speaking at the press conference in Downing Street, Mr Starmer said: 'Self-interest is yesterday's politics. I want a politics in this country that works for you.'

Sir Keir Starmer has said at the press conference that he will be visiting all four UK nations and would meet all Metro mayors across the country later in the week.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said in his press conference that the landslide victory in the General Election gave Labour 'a clear mandate to govern in all four corners of the United Kingdom'.

Keir Starmer is holding a press conference at Downing Street - watch it here:

Sir Keir Starmer told Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today that he hoped to advance the 'Aukus' defence partnership with the US and Australia.

After the Prime Minister's call with Mr Albanese, leader of Australia's Labour Party, a Downing Street spokeswoman said: 'The Prime Minister spoke to the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, this morning.

'The Prime Minister thanked the Australian leader for kind words of congratulations on his election victory.

'Looking ahead to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa later this year, the leaders discussed key challenges facing the region, including strategic competition and climate change.

'He added that he hoped to build on the already strong Aukus partnership between the UK, Australia and the US. The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.'

Mr Albanese earlier said on X: 'We have a lot to work on together as we grow our economies, advance Aukus, and seize the opportunities of the global clean energy transformation.'

Sir Keir Starmer said his Government is 'ready to serve the people of Britain'.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister wrote: 'Country first, party second.

'I held my first Cabinet meeting this morning. My government is ready to serve the people of Britain.'

The official UK Prime Minister X account posted: 'Prime Minister @Keir-Starmer chaired his first Cabinet this morning.

'He outlined the government's mission to restore Britain to the service of working people.'

Sir Keir Starmer told the Prime Minister of Japan that their countries were 'more resilient to shared global challenges when they worked together' in a call this morning.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: 'The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, this morning.

'The Prime Minister welcomed the strength of the relationship between the UK and Japan, adding that he had been honoured to meet the Emperor and Empress of Japan during their State Visit to the United Kingdom last month.

'Discussing regional stability, as well as the situations in the Middle East and Ukraine, the leaders underscored that the security of the Euro-Atlantic region and Indo-Pacific was indivisible.

'The Prime Minister added that both countries were more resilient to shared global challenges when they worked together, including in defence of an open international order.

'Both leaders looked forward to meeting in person at the Nato summit next week.'

Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner are in power at last and they've already had a radical style overhaul - the latest in their history of developing their wardrobes to match their careers.

Dishy Rishi and his Savile Row suits are out. Now we're in the Starmer era of stylish glasses and tailored suits paired with Rayner's bold - yet often still whimsically quirky - power dresses.

Fashion designer Josh Birch Jones told MailOnline as Starmer became more and more powerful, there was a 'notable transformation' in his style.

Read the full story here:

As Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's calls with world leaders continued, he spoke to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: 'The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, this morning.

'The leaders exchanged congratulations on their respective election wins, and reflected on the strength of the relationship between the UK and India.

'The Prime Minister said he looked forward to further deepening the strong and respectful relationship between both countries, and welcomed Prime Minister Modi's leadership on key global challenges, such as climate change and economic growth.

'Discussing the importance of the living bridge between the UK and India, and the 2030 roadmap, the leaders agreed there was a wide range of areas across defence and security, critical and emerging technology, and climate change, for the two countries to deepen co-operation on.

'Discussing the free trade agreement, the Prime Minister said he stood ready to conclude a deal that worked for both sides. The leaders hoped to meet at the earliest opportunity.'

Downing Street staff have just been seen hanging England flag bunting on the railings outside No 10, ahead of the Euro 2024 match against Switzerland later today which kicks off at 5pm.

Nigel Farage has arrived to watch a football club's first match in Corringham, Essex, with Reform UK's fifth MP James McMurdock, who won the seat of Basildon South and East Thurrock.

The Reform leader was met by Mr McMurdock and the club's chairman Jack Duffin when he arrived to watch East Thurrock Community Football Club this afternoon.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting (centre) has told reporters this afternoon that the first Cabinet meeting was 'very good', adding: 'We're getting to work straight away.'

Mr Streeting was joined by Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds (right), who described the meeting as 'superb' as they departed No 10.

New Defence Secretary John Healey stressed his mission to 'make Britain secure at home and strong abroad' as he addressed the Ministry of Defence for the first time.

He told Armed Forces and civilian staff: 'We know these are serious times - war in Europe, conflict in the Middle East, growing Russian aggression, increasing global threats. We know there are serious problems - with our Armed Forces hollowed out and underfunded for 14 years.

'And this Government now is totally committed to 2.5% of defence spending, to Nato, to the nuclear deterrent and to support for Ukraine.

'The country has new leadership. This ministry has new leadership. Our mission is to make Britain secure at home and strong abroad, with the guiding principle of one defence.

'Because it isn't just those who serve in uniform who defend this country, it's those of you who serve in the Civil Service, who work on the production line, who staff the research labs, who develop software - and I want to see defence at the heart both of the future security of this country and the future success of this country.

'And that means an Armed Forces well-equipped and ready to fight, a skilled, scalable industrial base, a stronger relationship with allies, a more influential MoD, a public that understands and better supports, those who are willing to serve - those whose service is the ultimate form of public service.'

Sir Keir Starmer has now chaired the first meeting of the new Cabinet on his first full day in Downing Street - and here's a guide to who everyone is:

Cabinet members are now starting to file out of 10 Downing Street this afternoon following their first meeting - including Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson:

New Environment Secretary Steve Reed said this morning that 'it will take years' to tackle the sewage and nature crises.

As he took on the brief, Mr Reed said: 'It is the privilege of my life to be appointed as the Secretary of State For Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.

'There is no sugarcoating it: we face a crisis point. Record levels of sewage in our rivers, lakes and seas. Nature is dying. Confidence amongst farmers at the lowest on record.

'It will take years to reverse this damage, but the work of change begins now.'

Here are some more pictures of this morning's Cabinet meeting after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer opened it by telling ministers: 'We have a huge amount of work to do, so now we get on with our work.'

Sir Keir Starmer told the first gathering of his new Cabinet in Downing Street: 'Look colleagues, it is absolutely fantastic to welcome you to the Cabinet, our first meeting.

'And it was the honour and privilege of my life to be invited by the King, His Majesty the King yesterday to form a government and to form the Labour Government of 2024.

'And now we hold our first Cabinet meeting. So I welcome you to it. We have a huge amount of work to do, so now we get on with our work.'

His words were met with loud applause.

Sir Keir was flanked at the Cabinet table by his deputy and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case.

Keir Starmer warned his new Cabinet they have a 'huge amount of work to do' today as kicked off Labour's era in power.

Sir Keir gathered his senior ministers in Downing Street for the first time after his dramatic landslide triumph, saying it had been the 'honour and privilege of my life' to be asked to form a government.

The discussions with his jubilant team over coffee come before Sir Keir holds a press conference around lunchtime, although he is expected to take time to watch the England match later.

Here's the full story from MailOnline's political editor James Tapsfield:

We've now been sent more photographs of Prime Minister Keir Starmer chairing his first meeting of the Cabinet at Downing Street this morning:

Here's the first picture from Sir Keir Starmer chairing the first meeting of his new Cabinet at Downing Street this morning:

Jeremy Hunt has reportedly ruled out a Tory leadership bid.

The former chancellor, a two-time former leadership hopeful, told GB News that 'the time has passed'.

Mr Hunt held off a Lib Dem challenge in Godalming and Ash as the Tories suffered their worst ever general election result.

Sir Keir Starmer is now chairing the first meeting of his new Cabinet before facing questions from the media after promising to start work 'immediately' on his first full day in Downing Street.

The Prime Minister appointed his top team yesterday after sweeping to an historic victory at the polls, making only minor changes to the shadow cabinet that existed before the election.

Also today, a recount in the last seat left to formally declare - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire - started at 10.30am - delaying the final result of the General Election.

Stay with MailOnline throughout today and we'll bring you all the latest updates.

Lucy Powell, the Leader of the House of Commons, has told reporters there is 'lots to do' as she arrived at Downing Street this morning:

'Stop Brexit Man' Steve Bray has vowed to continue his campaign to rejoin the European Union despite Sir Keir Starmer's landslide victory yesterday - although he said he will tone down the noise.

Read the full story on MailOnline:

Attorney General Richard Hermer has also now walked into No.10:

Panicking Tories are calling for Nigel Farage to be 'invited to join' the party after the election disaster.

Hundreds of MPs lost their seats as Rishi Sunak was brutally evicted from Downing Street, with Keir Starmer now sitting on one of the biggest majorities in history.

And leadership jockeying is already in full effect, with the 121 remaining Conservative MPs facing potential existential decisions about what direction to take.

Read the full story from MailOnline's political editor James Tapsfield:

Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn stands on the steps of No.10 today:

We are expecting Sir Keir Starmer's Cabinet meeting to begin at 11am today and will bring you all the latest updates on MailOnline.

Scottish Secretary Ian Murray has also now walked into 10 Downing Street:

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has now arrived and stressed to reporters that the new Government has 'a lot to get on with':

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has also now appeared this morning and met his fellow ministers before entering No 10:

And here's the latest sighting of Sir Keir Starmer, who has just been photographed returning to the rear of Downing Street ahead of his first Cabinet meeting:

The string of Cabinet ministers continued with Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens.

Asked if the red Government folder she was holding had her name on it, Ms Stevens replied: 'Not yet.'

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is another Cabinet minister to have just arrived at Downing Street ahead of the first meeting this morning:

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy smiles as she becomes the latest new Cabinet minister to arrive at 10 Downing Street:

And here comes Liz Kendall, the new Work and Pensions Secretary:

Defence Secretary John Healey has also now arrived for the Cabinet meeting:

Cabinet ministers began entering from all angles ahead of their meeting this morning.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves, wearing a burgundy outfit, walked up the Downing Street pavement and into No 11.

Forget the actual result, the election has thrown up all sorts of winners and losers, from Larry the Downing Street cat to JK Rowling. Here’s our none-too-rigorous guide to who should be celebrating today and who should be commiserating:

And here comes Shabana Mahmood at Downing Street, after she was appointed Justice Secretary by Sir Keir Starmer yesterday:

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has arrived back at 10 Downing Street - this time without an umbrella, and carrying her red Government folder.

She walked in with Baroness Smith shortly before 10.30am, but neither answered any questions.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has now arrived at Downing Street, alongside Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Miliband said: 'It's good to be back.'

As Cabinet ministers continue to arrive, more items are being taken out of Downing Street by removal men - including furniture and ornaments:

Labour Party chair Anneliese Dodds walks outside Downing Street on the day of the first cabinet meeting.

Yesterday, she held the seat Oxford East, which she has represented since 2017.

Suella Braverman said this morning that there were 'no announcements' on the Tory leadership race.

The former home secretary is expected to throw her hat into the ring in the contest to replace Rishi Sunak, who said he would quit as leader once formal arrangements were in place to select his successor.

Asked whether she would be the next Tory leader, Ms Braverman (pictured yesterday, below) told broadcasters outside her home today: 'No announcements. We've just got to take our time, we've got to figure out what the situation is.'

She continued: 'It's been a really bad result. There's no two ways about it. Hundreds of excellent Tory MPs have been kicked out of office.'

She went on to criticise Sir Keir Starmer for planning to axe the Rwanda deportation scheme, saying: 'Years of hard work, acts of Parliament, millions of pounds been spent on a scheme which had it been delivered properly would have worked.

'But there are big problems on the horizon which will be I'm afraid caused by Keir Starmer.'

A flurry of Cabinet ministers are now filing into Downing Street for the first meeting of Sir Keir Starmer's government.

The latest to arrive is Transport Secretary Louise Haigh, who has just walked in.

Asked by reporters when the railways would be nationalised, Ms Haigh said: 'As soon as possible.'

Number 10 could be plunged into cat-astrophe over fears of a feud between Chief Mouser Larry and Keir Starmer's moggy JoJo when the new Prime Minister moves his family in to the Downing Street residence.

Here's the full story on MailOnline:

Ellie Reeves, who held the Labour seat for Lewisham West and East Dulwich yesterday, has now arrived at Downing Street:

She was the Labour Party's Deputy Campaign Coordinator.

The latest arrival at Downing Street is the new Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology is Peter Kyle:

Wes Streeting, the new Health and Social Care Secretary, has now arrived at Downing Street ahead of the new Government's first Cabinet meeting.

Mr Streeting told reporters this morning: 'We're getting straight to work.'

It comes after the Labour politician said in his first statement in the post yesterday that the NHS is 'broken' and 'patients are being failed on a daily basis'.

Mr Streeting said that the service is 'going through the biggest crisis in its history' and it cannot be fixed overnight. But he pledged to start the work to try and resolve the issues 'today'.

The Labour Government is poised to scrap the Rwanda scheme just as it was finally ready for take-off, to the delight of migrants waiting to cross the Channel.

In a tent encampment in woodland near Dunkirk last night, migrants said it was 'amazing news' that the new UK Government will abandon the programme.

Read the full story from Daily Mail reporter Neil Sears in Grande-Synthe:

Environment Secretary Steve Reed has now arrived at Downing Street ahead of the new Government's first Cabinet meeting.

Mr Reed smiled and chatted briefly with members of the media as he walked into No.10 this morning.

Removal men are now taking posters and prints out of Downing Street - with this one appearing to be 'Who Cares Wins' by Harland Miller:

Rishi Sunak's neighbours have said they are excited to see more of the former Prime Minister and his 'lovely' wife Akshata Murty after they were booted from No 10 yesterday following a Labour landslide.

People living in the tiny North Yorkshire village of Kirby Sigston claimed that the ousted premier, who lives in a private late-Georgian house in the area, is 'too nice to be a politician'.

Here's the full story on MailOnline:

The latest item to be removed from Downing Street this morning is this harp, which was taken away by a worker before being loaded into a van.

Whatever could we see next?!

We are now just under an hour away from the start of a recount this morning in the last remaining undeclared seat in the 2024 General Election.

Despite an initial count on Thursday night and a recount yesterday, the result of the contest in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire remains undecided.

A further recount is due to commence at 10.30am, with the SNP's Drew Hendry locked in a close battle with Liberal Democrat candidate Angus MacDonald.

The seat is expected to become the Liberal Democrats' sixth in Scotland.

This graphic from today's Daily Mail displays a series of interesting statistics following Labour's landslide victory in the General Election this week:

The Keir Starmer era is kicking off today as the new PM meets his Cabinet after the dramatic election triumph

Sir Keir will gather his senior ministers in Downing Street on his first full day, as well as holding a press conference around lunchtime.

Read the full story from MailOnline's political editor James Tapsfield:

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has now been seen walking outside Downing Street and putting up her umbrella again, on the day of the first Cabinet meeting with Sir Keir Starmer:

Sir Alan Campbell has been seen stepping out of a car at 10 Downing Street this morning after being appointed by Sir Keir Starmer as Chief Whip:

Munira Wilson, education spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, told Sky News this morning that the Conservatives will be 'tearing themselves apart' working out a new leader and what direction they are going in, but Lib Dem MPs will be 'focused' on being an opposition party.

She said: 'It's really important for the British people that there are opposition MPs asking tough questions and scrutinising the legislation that Labour are going to bring forward, and I can assure you that every Liberal Democrat MP in the House of Commons will be doing that and will be focused on the job and not worried about where the party's going.'

She told Sky News the Lib Dems surpassed everyone's expectations, 'including my own', and that the party hopes to bring its record number of MPs up from 71 to 72 after the recount in the final seat to declare - Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire.

As the new Cabinet members arrive this morning, one feline has also been patiently waiting to be let into Number 10.

Larry, Britain's mouse-catcher in chief and long time resident at the leader's official residence, has just been pictured waiting outside the famous black door.

Larry was recruited by David Cameron to tackle rats seen scuttling close to the leader's official residence, and entered Downing Street in February 2011.

Munira Wilson, the education spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, has acknowledged this morning that the party benefited from voters wanting to turf out a Conservative government.

The Twickenham MP told Sky News today: 'We were very clear that after the previous Conservative government, which was frankly full of chaos and incompetence and had broken the trust of the British people and broken our economy, time was up for them and in many of those seats where we won we made it very clear to voters that if they wanted to turf out the Tories they had to vote Liberal Democrat and they did.

'So obviously in every election it's a combination of the two, but I am also confident that our messages around cost-of-living, sewage, health and care did really resonate with voters.'

The Green Party quadrupled its number of MPs and came second in 47 constituencies on its most successful election night in history.

Co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay overturned huge majorities to take seats from Labour and the Conservatives.

This morning, Mr Ramsay was on BBC Breakfast and said his party will push Labour on policies over environmental issues and public services:

Rachel Reeves has arrived at Downing Street this morning after being confirmed yesterday as Britain's first woman chancellor:

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has just been spotted arriving for the first Cabinet meeting with Sir Keir Starmer at Downing Street this morning:

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has been spotted arriving at the rear of Downing Street this morning, as he prepares to hold his first Cabinet meeting.

Earlier, we brought you photos of a removal van arriving at Dowing Street.

Now, workers from the firm - Bishop's Move - have been spotted carrying boxes and furniture to the van, as Rishi Sunak moves out and Keir Starmer moves in.

These are the main events that happened during the General Election results night:

• With 649 of the 650 Commons seats declared, Labour has a majority of 176
• Labour has 412 seats and the Tories 121 - worst result in the party's history.
• Former prime minister Liz Truss lost to Labour in South West Norfolk
• A record 12 ministers who sat around the Cabinet table were ousted
• Penny Mordaunt, Grant Shapps, Mark Harper & Johnny Mercer lost to Labour
• Gillian Keegan, Alex Chalk and Lucy Frazer lost to the Liberal Democrats
• Tory chairman Richard Holden won by just 20 votes in Basildon and Billericay
• Outgoing chancellor Jeremy Hunt held off challengers in Godalming and Ash
• Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn held on to his seat as an independent
• Reform UK leader Nigel Farage won as his Reform UK party got five seats
• Greens got four seats, while Lib Dems achieved record result with 71 MPs

The moment is seared on my mind, not to mention captured in a thousand videos on social media, writes MICHAEL PORTILLO. It shows me in the small hours of May 2, 1997 – 3.01am to be precise – standing alongside my fellow election candidates, with my features arranged into as neutral an expression as I could muster.

Read his thoughts on what became known as the 'Portillo moment', a metaphor for a sudden, significant change in political fortunes:

Sir Keir Starmer’s victory was branded a ‘loveless landslide’ after analysis showed just one in five of the electorate had backed Labour. Here is the full data:

Britons have revealed why they had turned their backs on the Conservatives and their hopes for positive change after Labour's landslide General Election victory.

MailOnline spoke to voters in a number of seats gained by Labour or the Liberal Democrats, with many explaining why they had decided not to vote Tory:

Also on the agenda today is the England men's football team's crunch Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland in Dusseldorf at 5pm.

And England manager Gareth Southgate has wished Sir Keir Starmer well - but stopped short of offering any tips to survive in the public eye.

The match will be Southgate's 100th as England boss since he took the reins, initially on an interim basis, in 2016. That run has seen him outlast four British prime ministers, with Sir Keir now the fifth.

Asked if he had any advice for Starmer and who he thought had the tougher of the two jobs, Southgate replied: 'Well, I'm not envious of his job. No, I don't have any advice.

'I think when you're in a position of responsibility, as I am, you realise that advice comes from every direction. Everybody has a simple solution to complex problems, so I'm sure he's going to be inundated with that sort of feel.

'Yeah, having been in the role I have, the one thing I would do is not be offering any additional issues for him by speaking publicly about anything, so I wish him well.

'We want a strong country. We all want the best possible conditions in the UK and whoever is in charge, whichever government is in charge, that's what we all desire.'

This is the story of the last few days in the bunker of a disastrous Tory campaign as it lurched from one crisis to another, as told by Andrew Pierce:

The new Cabinet will meet for the first time this morning.

Appointments of junior ministers are likely to continue, as will calls from world leaders and first ministers of the devolved nations. Legislative priorities and the timing of any major policy announcements will also need to be worked out.

Sir Keir Starmer has signalled that at least three housing announcements could be made in the first two weeks of a Labour Government.

'The Government has got to show that it's taking charge immediately, and doing what's necessary,' Lord Robin Butler, who oversaw the transition as cabinet secretary when Labour swept into power in 1997, said.

Decisions such as allocating office space in No 10 - ill-suited to be a modern workplace with its maze-like layout - 'have got to be decided on the first weekend because they're necessary in order for people to start working'.

Sir Keir's chief of staff, Sue Gray, who spent years at the top of the Civil Service, will likely be involved in decisions about how the Prime Minister will work, how the centre of Government will be set up and his diary for the first few days - some of which will have been agreed in access talks.

The Labour leader's expected attendance at the Nato leaders' summit next week will also require briefings to be readied and decisions to be made about which officials should accompany him.

More than 5,000 days have passed since Labour were last in Government.

But Keir Starmer wasted no time in laying down the first tentative steps towards change yesterday as he selected his cabinet and assured voters he would begin to rebuild trust with a 'country-first, party-second' brand of politics.

Here, MailOnline looks at Labour's first day back in power:

Here's a graphic in today's Daily Mail showing the new House of Commons:

A photographer has spotted a removal van from 'Bishop's Move' arriving at the rear of Downing Street this morning as Sir Keir Starmer moves into Number 10:

Just days after his appointment, Sir Keir Starmer will be propelled onto the international stage, jetting to Washington DC for the Nato leaders' summit, where discussions will include support for Ukraine.

He is also due to host the European Political Community summit in the UK on July 18.

The Prime Minister has already spoken to US President Joe Biden and discussed their commitment to the special relationship between the UK and US, protecting the gains of the Good Friday Agreement and support for Ukraine.

Sir Keir also spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and reassured him of the 'unwavering commitment' and said the UK would continue supplying defensive support.

He had calls with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

He also talked to Irish premier Simon Harris, who accepted an invitation to visit Downing Street on July 17 and Scottish First Minister John Swinney.

Pat McFadden, who played a central role in shaping Labour's election campaign and was named Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said the new Cabinet would meet today.

He told BBC Radio 4 that Sir Keir Starmer would have to quickly allocate responsibilities and 'give his new Cabinet their marching orders and then there's big international events coming.

'We have a Nato summit next week. That will be his first moment on the international stage. And while he's doing that, he will want his new Cabinet to get on with it pretty quickly.'

He said high on Sir Keir's agenda will be the six first steps Labour has set out: delivering economic stability, cutting NHS waiting times, launching a new border security command, setting up Great British Energy, cracking down on anti-social behaviour, and recruiting 6,500 new teachers.

In his first speech on Downing Street yesterday, Sir Keir said the British people had voted 'decisively for change'.

He said the country could 'move forward together' as Labour took office following 14 years of Conservative rule.

Read his full speech on MailOnline here:

A recount in the last remaining undeclared seat in the 2024 General Election will begin this morning, amidst reports the SNP candidate has already conceded defeat.

Despite an initial count on Thursday night and a recount yesterday, the result of the contest in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire remains undecided.

A further recount is due to commence at 10.30am, with the SNP's Drew Hendry locked in a close battle with Liberal Democrat candidate Angus MacDonald.

The BBC reported last night that Mr Hendry had conceded defeat ahead of the count, and that the seat is expected to become the Liberal Democrats' sixth in Scotland.

This would come as a further blow to the SNP in what has been a bruising election for the nationalists, having lost 39 of the 48 seats they won in 2019, mainly to a resurgent Labour.

After 649 of the 650 Commons seats had been declared, Labour had a majority of 176.

Labour had 412 seats and the Tories 121, the worst result in the Conservative Party's history.

The Liberal Democrats won 71 seats, while Reform netted five.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to hold the first meeting of his new Cabinet today as he looks to start working on Labour's manifesto pledges and preparing for a Nato summit next week.

Sir Keir made a raft of appointments on his first day at Number 10 and spoke with international leaders, including US President Joe Biden.

The Prime Minister confirmed Rachel Reeves as Britain's first woman chancellor, Yvette Cooper as Home Secretary and David Lammy as Foreign Secretary.

Angela Rayner officially became his Deputy Prime Minister and retained the levelling up, housing and communities brief.

John Healey was named Defence Secretary; Shabana Mahmood Justice Secretary; Wes Streeting Health Secretary; Bridget Phillipson Education Secretary; and Ed Miliband Energy Secretary.

Today's Daily Mail leads with the headline: 'Now he has to deliver'. The front page also declares Labour's 34 per cent of the vote as a 'Loveless Landslide':

We'll start with a look at today's top story on MailOnline - which is that Tory members have bemoaned of a 'Boris-shaped hole' in the party and are a demanding a candidate to challenge Nigel Farage and succeed Rishi Sunak as the party's leader:

Good morning and welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage on Saturday morning after Sir Keir Starmer took the keys to Downing Street.

Voters handed Labour a landslide victory in the General Election as Sir Keir took over from Rishi Sunak, who vacated No 10 after the Conservatives suffered a crushing defeat after 14 years in power.

Stay with MailOnline's election liveblog throughout today for all the latest updates.