London, United Kingdom. British Cypriot MP Nesil Caliskan expressed gratitude to outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer ahead of his planned resignation on Monday and the expected appointment of former Manchester mayor Andy Burnham as his successor.
Caliskan said the handover would mark a new chapter for Labour, with a new prime minister working to deliver for people across the country.
Caliskan’s tribute
Caliskan said Starmer would leave office having made the country better than it was two years ago.
Reflecting on Starmer becoming Labour leader, she said she had felt hopeful while carrying out her duties as a council leader during the Covid pandemic. She said his leadership had made her proud to be a Labour member again, having joined the party at the age of 14.
She cited her subsequent election to Labour’s national executive committee, her election as an MP and her appointment last month as parliamentary undersecretary of state for devolution, faith and communities.
“I am so proud to be able to say, ‘I was part of it’, in a small way,” she said.
Leadership transition
Caliskan said she was most grateful for Starmer’s leadership, which she said saved the Labour Party and returned it to government, benefiting people who needed a Labour administration.
Burnham became Labour leader on Friday after receiving the support of the vast majority of the party’s 403 MPs. Starmer was due to visit King Charles III on Monday to formally resign and recommend Burnham’s appointment as prime minister.
The King was expected to appoint Burnham following Starmer’s recommendation.
Burnham’s response
Burnham praised Starmer after becoming Labour leader, saying the party had gone from its worst defeat to one of the strongest victories in its history under his predecessor.
He said Starmer had returned Labour to a position where it could change people’s lives, while also promising to build a new politics.