in London, today. Performed outside Buckingham Palace this morning and, as I write, a short distance away in Downing Street; granted, without the royal pomp and ceremony but with some very civil good cheer and good will.
An interesting (almost) all-nighter behind me; this time ending with some hopeful signs. Which can not be said of some previous experiences, nor represent future expectations. After fourteen years and a series of leaders, the United Kingdom has rid themselves of an appalling generation of Tories and a Labour government has been elected with a huge majority.
The new Prime Minister (the 58th -and an elected one this time!) is Keir Starmer. A serious man has left his audience with the King and, as I write, with the midday sun shining after a rainy morning, approaches the lectern in front of No. 10 to make his first address as Prime Minister.
An overtly thumping majority not to be taken for granted, for a closer analysis indicates a complicated result with tensions from the Right (and to a lesser extent Left), the potential for messy intraparty conflicts and a fickle, unenthusiastic electorate.