Sir Keir Starmer is chairing his first cabinet meeting following Labour’s landslide win that ended 14 years of Tory rule.
It comes after the new prime minister appointed his top team on Friday afternoon – making few changes to the shadow cabinet that existed before the election.
Follow general election fallout live
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper walks outside Downing Street
Pic: Reuters
Among those arriving in Downing Street was Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, and Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
High on the cabinet agenda will likely be the the six first steps set out in the Labour manifesto: delivering economic stability, cutting NHS waiting times, launching a new border security command, creating Great British Energy, cracking down on anti-social behaviour and recruiting 6,500 new teachers.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
‘My government will serve you’
The one notable exception was Sir Keir picking experienced human rights lawyer Richard Hermer KC for attorney general rather than Emily Thornberry, who held the shadow role prior to the election. He will become a peer to take up the job.
Read more:
Labour’s top team revealed
World leaders react to Starmer’s win
Eight unexpected moments from election
High on the cabinet agenda will likely be the the six first steps set out in the Labour manifesto: delivering economic stability, cutting NHS waiting times, launching a new border security command, creating Great British Energy, cracking down on anti-social behaviour and recruiting 6,500 new teachers.
The new prime minister faces a series of challenges on taking office, including an NHS waiting list of 6.33 million patients, the small boats crisis in the Channel, an overstretched prison system, and sluggish economic growth.
Mr Streeting has said talks with the British Medical Association (BMA), whose junior doctor members are currently on strike, would begin next week.
Sir Keir will be on the international stage just days into his appointment, when he will travel to Washington DC for the NATO leaders’ summit. He will also host the European Political Community summit in the UK on 18 July.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
UK election over 24 hours
In his first speech as prime minister on the steps of Downing Street, Sir Keir – who said he will not work past 6pm on Fridays to spend time with his family – promised his new government would “serve you” and that “politics can be a force for good”.
“Our country has voted decisively for change, for national renewal and a return of politics to public service,” he said.
“Our work is urgent, and we begin it today.”
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive Breaking News alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News App. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
