Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed the “departure” of Bashar al Assad as chief of Syria.

Mr Assad has left workplace and the nation after giving orders for there to be a peaceable switch of energy, the Russian overseas ministry mentioned in an announcement on Sunday.

It adopted a lightning offensive by anti-regime forces, with rebels getting into Damascus final night time.

In an announcement, the UK’s prime minister mentioned: “The developments in Syria in latest hours and days are unprecedented, and we’re chatting with our companions within the area and monitoring the state of affairs intently.

“The Syrian individuals have suffered underneath Assad’s barbaric regime for too lengthy and we welcome his departure.

“Our focus is now on making certain a political resolution prevails, and peace and stability is restored.

“We name on all sides to guard civilians and minorities and guarantee important support can attain probably the most susceptible within the coming hours and days.”

Politics newest: Deputy PM responds to Assad’s fall

Talking to Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips earlier at this time, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner mentioned: “Effectively, the state of affairs seems very severe and if the Assad regime has fallen, then I welcome that information.

“However what we have to see is a political decision according to the UN resolutions. And we have to see civilians and infrastructure protected.

“Far too many individuals have misplaced their lives – we’d like stability in that area.”

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President Assad has fled Syria in response to a number of studies, following a insurgent advance that noticed his energy evaporate in lower than a fortnight.

The rebels, made up of assorted opposition teams however led by a one which has its origins in al Qaeda, mentioned this morning they’re persevering with work to finish the switch of energy in Syria to a transitional governing physique with full govt powers.

Ms Rayner added: “If Assad has fallen and that regime is over, I welcome that.

“He wasn’t precisely good to the Syrian individuals.

“So we need to see a political decision in order that we are able to get that stability for Syrians and make it possible for they’ve their infrastructure in order that they’ve a political authorities there that’s working within the curiosity of the Syrian individuals.”

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‘We have had a plan’ to evacuate Britons

Requested about British residents in Syria, the deputy prime minister mentioned: “You will have heard final week the overseas secretary was very clear about UK civilians leaving Syria.

“We have had a plan to make sure that individuals had been evacuated forward of what is occurred over the weekend, and we proceed to help our UK nationals.”

Ms Rayner was additionally pushed by Trevor Phillips on Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), the primary insurgent pressure, and its former hyperlink to al Qaeda.

‘We want a political resolution’

“Dictatorship and terrorism creates issues for the individuals of Syria who’ve confronted a lot already and in addition destabilises the area,” she mentioned.

“That is why we now have to have a political resolution the place the federal government is performing within the pursuits of the Syrian individuals. That is what we need to see.

“That is the kind of democracy that we are saying is true for the world and that hopefully, is what the Syrian individuals will get.”

Sir Keir is heading to the Center East later for a gathering with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, though the summit was organised earlier than the autumn of the Assad regime.