Triumphant Keir Starmer poses with his Scots MPs at No10 and says he wants MORE mayors - as 'Red' Parliament returns after extraordinary election rout of Tories
A triumphant Keir Starmer posed with his haul of Scottish Labour MPs today as the 'Red' Parliament returns.
The new PM hosted his 37 successful candidates in Downing Street, hours before the House of Commons sits for the first time since the election rout.
He also entertained a gaggle of the party's mayors, telling them that he wants to create even more.
The dramatic change in fortunes will be laid bare in the chamber, with 411 Labour MPs squeezing on to the government benches while the paltry 121 Tories sit alongside the 72 Lib Dems.
Nigel Farage has also arrived at Westminster with his four Reform colleagues, vowing to target Labour voters and be a thorn in the side of the premier.
A triumphant Keir Starmer posed with his haul of Scottish Labour MPs today as the 'Red' Parliament returns
Sir Keir and Angela Rayner (centre) also entertained a gaggle of the party's mayors, telling them that he wants to create even more. The sole Tory was Tees mayor Ben Houchen (second from right)
London mayor Sadiq Khan (right) said Sir Keir discussed 'other parts of the country where there could be mayors' during a meeting with regional leaders at Downing Street. Andy Burnham (left) was also there
The new cohort of 643 MPs will arrange themselves on the green benches at 2.30pm, when they will elect a Speaker.
Incumbent Sir Lindsay Hoyle will be hoping to be returned to the chair unopposed.
Sir Keir will deliver his first words at the despatch box as PM, while Rishi Sunak will have to surface after his election drubbing.
The MPs will then be sworn in over the coming days ahead of Parliament's State Opening on Wednesday July 17.
They will promise to 'be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law'.
Sinn Fein which won seven seats across Northern Ireland, including two in Belfast, have a long-standing policy of abstentionism so do not take their seats in Westminster.
Before they elect a Speaker, Black Rod Sarah Clarke must summon MPs to the House of Lords.
She will cross through Central Lobby to fetch Father of the House Sir Edward Leigh, and walk him to the Lords, where a Royal Commission will be read directing MPs to choose their speaker.
Sir Edward is the longest continuously serving MP, having had a seat in the Commons since 1983 – the year when Margaret Thatcher won a 144-seat majority and when Jeremy Corbyn, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown first became MPs.
He must preside over the selection.
Sir Lindsay is expected to put himself forward as Speaker, having served in the role since 2019 and contested the Chorley, Lancashire, without a party affiliation.
It is up to MPs to decide whether he will stay on in the role.
If Sir Lindsay is allowed to remain in post, MPs will drag him to the Speaker's Chair to serve in the once-perilous role, seven speakers were executed by beheading between 1394 and 1535, according to Parliament records.
Sir Lindsay is expected to thank his colleagues, and senior politicians may also speak to congratulate him, including Sir Keir.
Nigel Farage has also arrived at Westminster with his four Reform colleagues, vowing to target Labour voters and be a thorn in the side of the premier
Swearing in begins the same afternoon, led by the Speaker, Father of the House Sir Edward, then members of the Sir Keir's Cabinet and Leader of the Opposition Rishi Sunak's shadow cabinet.
Lawmaking and debates in the House of Commons remain on hold until after the formal State Opening of Parliament, where the King will lay out the government's legislative agenda from the Sovereign's Throne in the House of Lords.
London mayor Sadiq Khan said Sir Keir discussed 'other parts of the country where there could be mayors' during a meeting with regional leaders at Downing Street.
Mr Khan said after the meeting: 'What I want other parts of the country who have not got a mayor to know is that having a mayor can be a real game changer.'
The Mayor of London added: 'We heard this morning, the Prime Minister talking about other parts of the country where there could be mayors.
'That brings with it not just additional powers, but also additional resources as well.'
returns on Tuesday with Labour ministers on the Government frontbench for the first time in more than a decade.
