Keir Starmer has won the race to replace Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party.
He saw off challenges from Wigan MP Lisa Nandy and Salford and Eccles representative, Rebecca Long-Bailey to secure the top job shortly before 11am this morning.
Following his win, Keir Starmer tweeted: “It's the honour and privilege of my life to be elected as leader of the Labour Party.
“I will lead this great party into a new era, with confidence and hope, so that when the time comes, we can serve our country again - in government.”
He added his election “comes at a moment like none other in our lifetime” as the Covid-19 outbreak has “brought normal life to a halt” but brought communities together.
The new Labour leader said: "I can see this happening, people coming together to help the isolated and the vulnerable, checking on their neighbours.
"So many volunteering for the NHS, millions of people doing their bit to stop this virus and to save lives."
The 57-year-old was named leader after ex-Labour chief Jeremy Corbyn led the party to its worst election defeat in decades, although the announcement was delayed due to technical issues on the Labour Party website.
His victory came after the planned special conference to unveil the winner had to be shelved because of the coronavirus crisis.
Angela Rayner was elected Deputy Leader in the same announcement.
The clean-cut leader, who was reportedly the inspiration for Mark Darcy in Bridget Jones’s Diary, won 56.2% of the vote while Ms Rayner won 52.6% of the ballot share.
Former Labour leader Ed Miliband tweeted: "Congratulations to Keir Starmer on a clear and deserved victory.
"His decency, values and intelligence are what our country needs at this moment of crisis and to lead us to a more equal, fairer and just future."
Keir was elected as MP for Holborn and St Pancras in 2015 and was the mastermind behind Labour’s trashed stance on holding a second EU referendum.
He now faces a daunting task to return Labour to power for the first time since 2010.
His win marks a significant change of direction for the party, with a move away from the politics of Jeremy Corbyn and Ed Miliband who led Labour over the last decade.
In the December election, the Conservatives hoovered up seats they had not held for more than 100 years.
Now, Prime Minister Boris Johnson sits on a massive 66-seat majority and will face few obstacles in Parliament until the next election.
