Keir Starmer: “The award was completely unexpected and very meaningful. It really means a huge amount.”

I will now focus on other things and that will be international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world.

In six and a half years, I took our party from a historic defeat in 2019, changed it so it was fit to face the country and won a landslide general election victory in 2024.

Our public services are on the up, with the biggest fall in waiting times for 17 years. Children are being lifted out of poverty every single day.

It’s work I started before I became an MP and it’s work I’m keen to continue after I’m an MP.