Starmer’s government takes office and new cabinet meets

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government began work on its first day in power after winning a landslide victory that upended 14 years of Conservative rule.

Speaking from 10 Downing Street on Saturday morning, Prime Minister Sir Keir welcomed the new top team, saying: “There’s a lot of work to do so now it’s time to get to work.”

In his first speech as Prime Minister, he promised to start work “immediately” to “rebuild Britain”.

A press conference outlining the Prime Minister’s priorities is due to be held later, and a number of junior ministers are also due to be appointed over the weekend as the most important work assignments have been completed.

A major focus will be the NHS, which Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting has declared is “failed”. In his first statements since taking office, Mr Streeting said patients are “being abandoned every day”.

The Cabinet announced on Friday saw the first woman appointed as Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, along with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

While less ethnically diverse than previous Conservative leaders, the cabinet broadly reflects the UK as a whole, with 12% of members, including Lammy, being from ethnic minorities.

The inner circle is made up of 50% women, led by Mr Reeves and Deputy First Minister and Levelling Up Minister Angela Rayner, and 12% LGBT members, including Mr Streeting.

The conference is expected to focus on stabilising the economy, setting up a new green investment company – GB Energy – and reducing NHS waiting lists.

Abandoning the Rwanda Plan and adopting a new plan to tackle illegal immigration will also be on the agenda, as will a lack of prison capacity and a strike by junior doctors.

Flights to Rwanda were scheduled for later this month, but Labour wants to redirect funding from the scheme to the Border Force, although questions remain over whether illegal immigration laws will be repealed.

Arriving at the meeting at 10 Downing Street, followed by Transport Secretary Louise Hague, Ms Streeting told reporters gathered in the street: “I’ll get to work immediately.”

Education Minister Bridget Phillipson said the new government has “a lot of work to do.”

New Labour MP for Rochdale, Paul Wharfe, told BBC Breakfast there was a sense of urgency for the new administration because “the key is to get results”, particularly when it comes to the NHS.

On Saturday, protesters are due to gather in Parliament Square for a Palestine Solidarity Campaign rally to be addressed by former Labour leader and now independent MP Jeremy Corbyn. Waugh said he won his seat from Labour leader George Galloway by being “directly involved” on the Gaza issue.

Sir Keir has turned his attention from the election campaign in the UK to the international stage, beginning preparations for next week’s NATO summit and speaking with world leaders in a series of telephone calls.

He discussed global challenges including climate change and economic growth with the prime ministers of India, Japan and Australia on Saturday morning.

A Downing Street spokesman said the call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi focused on defence, emerging technologies and the possibility of a free trade agreement.

Sir Keir met Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to discuss the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, while he spoke to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about further strengthening the partnership between the UK, Australia and the US, as well as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa later this year.

US President Joe Biden congratulated Sir Keir on Friday and the two discussed the UK’s commitment to the special relationship between the UK and the US, protecting the outcomes of the Good Friday Agreement and support for Ukraine.

Kiir met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and reassured him of his “unwavering commitment” to providing defense assistance.

And in a phone call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, he “underscored the importance of the UK’s special relationship with the EU” in tackling common “challenges” such as climate change and regional security, her office said.

Sir Keir will also host the European Political Community Leaders’ Summit in the UK on 18 July.