Keir Starmer addresses MPs for first time since Angela Rayner resigned

Keir Starmer paid tribute to Angela Rayner as he addressed MPs for the first time since she resigned.

In a meeting with Labour MPs tonight, the PM is understood to have referenced the difficult week the Deputy PM had last week. A number of other MPs also paid tribute to her work.

As he tried to rally MPs after an explosive last week, he told them "we have to fight" to achieve change in the country and branded Reform UK “plastic patriots”. He congratulated his new team, following the sudden and major reshuffle, as well as thanked the entire Labour Party, including those who have left the frontbench for their work in the last year.

Ahead of his first Cabinet meeting with his newly shaken-up top team tomorrow, Mr Starmer spoke about growth being “essential” to his next phase of Government - which will focus on delivery.

READ MORE: Labour deputy leadership contest kicks off as MPs race to succeed Angela Rayner

He told MPs: "If we want to build houses for the next generation, we have to fight for that.

"If we want transport infrastructure so people can get to work and businesses can thrive, we have to fight for it. And if we want every young child to go as far as his or her talent will take them, we have to fight for it."

Elsewhere during the meeting, Mr Starmer criticised those whose “politics are grounded in grievance”. He spoke about Nigel Farage’s trip to the US, saying he called for “sanctions against our country that would hit working people”.

He called "Reform plastic patriots" and said there are "plastic progressives on the other side too". He continued: "There's nothing progressive about a Green Party that opposes green infrastructure, blocks house building and wants to take us out of NATO."

The PM also told MPs the Employment Rights Bill “will continue with the same substance and timetable as before”. It came after union leaders raised fears the legislation - which was spearheaded by Ms Rayner - could be watered down when it comes back to Parliament next week.

During the meeting, Mr Starmer also discussed the need to stop people making the journey across the Channel on small boats, to smash the gangs, and to close asylum hotels.

He spoke about communities feeling intimidated and that he never wants people feeling scared or intimidated because of the colour of their skin, as well as referencing the riots last year.

A rapid six-week contest to replace Ms Rayner as Labour's deputy leader kicked off today with MPs scrambling to secure nominations. At an emergency meeting the party's governing body - the National Executive Committee (NEC) - agreed for a new deputy to be in place by 25 October.

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