Sir Keir Starmer is chairing his first cabinet meeting following the Labor Party’s landslide victory that ended 14 years of Conservative rule.
Happens after the new prime minister named its core team on Friday afternoon – making few changes to the formation of the shadow bench that existed before the election.
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Among those around the table was Chancellor Raquel ReevesSecretary of the Interior Yvette Cooperand Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of Housing Angela Rayner.
Other participants were the Secretary of Health Wes StreetSecretary of Education Bridget Phillipsonand Secretary of Foreign Affairs David Lammy.
Shabana Mahmood and Ed Miliband retained their respective justice and energy portfolios, while John Healey remained in defense and Jonathan Reynolds in business.
However, Sir Keir chose experienced human rights lawyer Richard Hermer KC as Attorney General over Emily Thornberry, who held the shadow role before the election.
He will become a colleague to take on the role of bailiff.
Sir Keir told his new cabinet: “Look, colleagues, it is absolutely fantastic to welcome you to the cabinet for our first meeting.
“And it has been an honor and a privilege of my life to be invited by the King… to form a government and form the 2024 Labor government.
“And now we have held our first cabinet meeting. So I welcome you.
“We have a lot of work to do, so now let’s get on with our work.”
His words were met with loud applause.
He was flanked at the cabinet table by Ms Rayner and cabinet secretary Simon Case.
Other ministerial appointments are expected to be announced over the weekend.
At the top of the cabinet’s agenda will probably be the first six steps set out in the Labor manifesto: providing economic stability, reducing NHS waiting times, launching a new border security command, creating Great British Energy, cracking down on anti-social behavior and recruit 6,500 new teachers.
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‘My government will serve you’
The new prime minister faces a number of challenges as he takes office, including an NHS waiting list of 6.33 million patients, the small boat crisis in the English Channel, an overburdened prison system and slow economic growth.
Sir Keir will be on the international stage just days after his appointment when he travels to Washington DC for the NATO leaders’ summit. He will also host the European Political Community summit in the United Kingdom on July 18.
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In his first speech as prime minister on the steps of Downing Street, Sir Keir – who said he did not work after 6pm on Fridays to spend time with his family – promised that his new government would “serve him” and that “politics can be a force for good”.
“Our country voted decisively for change, for national renewal and for the return of politics to public service,” he said.
“Our work is urgent and we begin today.”
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