Sir Keir Starmer’s new government is getting to work on its first full day in power after winning a landslide victory that ended 14 years of Conservative rule. Speaking from 10 Downing Street on Saturday morning, Sir Keir welcomed his new top team, saying, “We have a huge amount of work to do, so now we get on with our work.”
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First Actions as Prime Minister
In his first speech as Prime Minister, Sir Keir promised to start working “immediately” to “rebuild Britain.” A news conference later today will outline the PM’s priorities, and more junior ministers will be appointed over the weekend now that the main positions have been filled.
Focus on the NHS
One of the main priorities will be the NHS. The new Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, stated that the NHS is “broken” and that patients are “being failed on a daily basis.”
Key Cabinet Appointments
The new Cabinet was announced on Friday and includes Rachel Reeves as the first female Chancellor of the Exchequer, Yvette Cooper as Home Secretary, and David Lammy as Foreign Secretary. The Cabinet is less ethnically diverse than the previous Conservative one, but it roughly reflects the UK population with 12% minority ethnic members, including Mr Lammy. The Cabinet also has 50% women, led by Ms Reeves and Deputy PM Angela Rayner, and 12% LGBT members, including Mr Streeting.
Meeting Agenda
Today’s meeting will focus on economic stability, establishing the new green investment firm GB Energy, and reducing NHS waiting lists. Other topics include:
- Replacing the Rwanda immigration scheme with a new plan to tackle illegal immigration.
- Addressing prison overcrowding.
- Dealing with junior doctor strikes.
Labour plans to redirect money from the Rwanda scheme to a new Border Security Command, though it remains uncertain if the Illegal Migration Act will be repealed.
Immediate Work Begins
As they arrived for the meeting, Wes Streeting told reporters, “We’re getting straight to work,” followed by Transport Secretary Louise Haigh. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasized the new government’s workload, saying they had “a lot to get on with.”
Urgency to Deliver
Paul Waugh, the new Labour MP for Rochdale, told BBC Breakfast that the new administration is focused on delivering results, particularly for the NHS.
Protests and Political Engagement
Protesters will gather in Parliament Square for a Palestinian solidarity rally, where former Labour leader and now independent MP Jeremy Corbyn will speak. Waugh said he won his seat from Workers Party leader George Galloway by directly engaging on the issue of Gaza.
International Engagement
On Friday evening, Sir Keir shifted his focus from domestic issues to the international stage, speaking to world leaders in preparation for next week’s NATO summit. US President Joe Biden congratulated Sir Keir, and they discussed their commitment to the special relationship between the UK and the US, protecting the Good Friday Agreement, and supporting Ukraine. Sir Keir also spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, reaffirming the UK’s commitment to defensive support. Additionally, a call with the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, emphasized the importance of the relationship between the UK and the EU in addressing shared challenges like climate change and regional security. Sir Keir will host the European Political Community summit in the UK on July 18.
Read More:
- Starmer’s Vision for a New Britain: A Brick-by-Brick Approach to Rebuilding
- John Oliver’s Prediction Proves True: Conservative Party Suffers Landslide Defeat
- Who is Ayub Qassim, the British Man Who Housed Jay Slater at His Airbnb Before He Vanished?
- Analyzing the Conservative Party’s Downfall
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