MILLIONAIRE barrister Sir Keir Starmer has been crowned Labour leader.
Sir Keir was the favourite all along to win the competition, and will now finally replace Jeremy Corbyn.
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Sir Keir won the leadership in the first round, amassing more than 50 per cent of the vote.
He raked in 275,780 votes, amassing more than Mr Corbyn did when he was first elected as leader.
Mr Starmer also got a higher percentage than Tony Blair, Labour’s most successful ever leader who won three elections in a row.
In an announcement video, he said: “It is the honour and the privilege of my life to be elected as leader of the Labour Party.
“Be in no doubt I understand the scale of the task, the gravity of the position that we’re in.
“But we will climb it, and I will do my utmost to reconnect us across the country, to re-engage with our communities and voters, to establish a coalition across our towns and our cities and our regions with all creeds and communities to speak for the whole of the country.
“I will lead this great party into a new era, with confidence and with hope.
“So that when the time comes, we can serve our country again in Government.”
Mr Starmer paid tribute to his ousted predecessor, but also apologised for the party’s handling of anti-semitism.
He said: “Antisemitism has been a stain on our party. I have seen the grief that it’s brought to so many Jewish communities.
“On behalf of the Labour Party, I am sorry.
“And I will tear out this poison by its roots and judge success by the return of Jewish members and those who felt that they could no longer support us.”
Angela Rayner was named the new deputy leader, winning the contest in the third round of voting.
The Sun earlier revealed the former chief prosecutor had already had a podium delivered to his home and spent last week practising his acceptance speech.
A source said: “It’s not what most us have been doing while we exist on lockdown. But needs must when you are about to become Leader of the Opposition.”
Sir Keir inherits a bitterly-divided party following its worst election defeat since 1935.
However, Mr Corbyn has refused to go quietly, promising members on Facebook we will never really be rid of him.
He wrote: “I can assure you my voice will not be stilled.
“I’ll be out there campaigning for socialism, peace and justice, and feel sure we’ll be doing that together.”
Members rejected a continuation of his Marxist policies by candidate Rebecca Long Bailey, who on 135,218 got even less than flop Owen Smith.
Wigan MP Lisa Nandy also fell short. She is set to be handed a job in the Shadow Cabinet.
Angela Rayner is set to win the deputy role.
Rachel Reeves or Anneliese Dodds are tipped to be the first female Shadow Chancellor.
Corbyn allies Richard Burgon and Ian Lavery are likely to lose top roles.
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