Editorial: Much-needed reset in the UK could thaw Anglo-Irish relations

The Conservatives reached their own milestone with their worst results in the modern era. But such are the divisions in Britain that the honeymoon ended almost as soon as Mr Starmer was sworn in as prime minister.

Having been given the keys to No 10, his promise of change swiftly became a pledge to deliver “stability and moderation”. His focus is on rebuilding Britain and reaching out.

The election had brought the four nations of the UK together, “facing down the challenges of an insecure world”.

“From now on you have a government unburdened by doctrine, guided only by the determination to serve your interest,” he said in a message that will be welcomed by the many who felt government had become aloof, self-serving and remote.

In a hostile and heated political climate, he also sought to strike a note of optimism. His party could turn around the lack of trust in politics and the draining away of hope that has happened under previous governments. The economy and inequality will demand much of his attention. He will need to address people’s sense that everyday costs are beyond them.

It has been suggested that if you are going to kick authority in the face, it is best to use both feet, which seems to have been what much of the electorate have done to the Tories.

Rishi Sunak’s resignation was inevitable after such a rout. He had inherited a party on the slide, and the backlash arguably owes more to the cognitive dissonance that took hold under his predecessors Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.

Apologising for the trouncing, Mr Sunak took responsibility for the dire showing: he fully accepted the people had spoken and he accepted the outcome. With democracy under threat in so many places, every such endorsement is consequential.

However, the fact that his high-stakes bet on going for an early election backfired so spectacularly is sure to smart for some time.

Results in the North saw Sinn Féin emerge as the largest party and the DUP thoroughly shell-shocked after more than half-a-century of the Paisley hold on the North Antrim seat ended.

In Dublin, there was no disguising the sense of relief around Government Buildings that the arrival of Mr Starmer could herald a resetting of temperatures in Anglo-Irish relations, which were below zero at times over recent years.

As a no-nonsense lawyer, he built his reputation on solid, meticulous work. His rise has been remarkable as he only entered electoral politics at the age of 52.

His reputation is more as a fixer than flash orator, and this could be just what a recently stumbling Britain requires. With so much broken, he will have ample opportunity to showcase his skills-set.