 "Congratulatory calls, visit to nuclear bunker: How Keir Starmer will spend his first day as UK PM")
Fear. That was the overriding emotion former British Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher experienced on their first day in Number 10 Downing Street. However, as Keir Starmer revels in the Labour Part y’s win — a first in 14 years — he will also have a daunting sense of responsibility as he prepares to take charge of the country’s affairs.
It will be even more daunting for Starmer as he enters No 10 with no experience whatsoever of being in government.
As Starmer prepares for perhaps what could be the longest and most important day of his life, having to make crucial decisions and appointments that will have long-term consequences for his tenure as well as the country, here’s how his first 24 hours will unfold after taking charge.
A royal meet
After a night of celebrations and a really quick nap, Sir Starmer will start his day as UK PM by first meeting with King Charles III . This is because a prime minister can only be appointed by the King.
Starmer will be driven to Buckingham Palace early morning for a meeting with the King that is likely to last around half an hour. According to a report by The Telegraph, the prime minister’s spouse may also be invited in towards the end of the meeting.
Tony Blair has in the past recounted how he tripped over a rug and “practically fell into the Queen’s hands” when he went to the Palace for his appointment.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe King, as per law, has to remain neutral but can issue advice and warnings. Before he was appointed as PM, Gordon Brown said he and the Queen had a “businesslike” conversation about the work ahead.
Back to Number 10
After being appointed as PM by the King, Starmer will make his way to 10 Downing where he is likely to get out at the end of the road to make the short walk to a podium set up outside the famous door of No 10.
Standing at the podium, Starmer will then address the nation in which he is likely to list out his priorities as PM. Once done with addressing the nation, the Labour leader will then enter through the front door of Number 10 and that’s where the actual work will begin. However, before the key consultations and meets, Starmer will be clapped into the building by the No 10 staff and greeted by the Cabinet secretary.
The Cabinet Secretary, the most senior civil servant in the UK, will then lead Starmer into a series of meetings and briefings on security and nuclear weapons. Among the many briefings that Starmer will receive, one is quite interesting. He will be advised always to always travel with a black suit and tie, in case the King dies on his watch.
The Institute for Government Alex Thomas, a programme director leading the think tank’s work on the civil service and policymaking, said that ministerial appointments will be the first task that Starmer faces. He was quoted as saying: “Almost straight away, he will launch into appointing the Cabinet, having meetings with the people who he wants to appoint to big jobs, maybe disappointing some people.”
Visit to nuclear bunker
Once the initial briefings are completed, PM Starmer will be taken downstairs to an underground bunker beneath another government building where they will shelter in the event of a nuclear war or an attack on Downing Street.
A former staff member of Theresa May had said that when she was taken down to the bunker, which has beds, food supplies, communications facilities and a television studio, she was told that Cherie Blair, wife of Tony Blair, had suggested a change in the furniture in the bunker as she didn’t like it.
Picking his team and home
Starmer will also have to get the ball rolling on government formation and will be meeting with his senior leaders in an attempt to put his team together.
Dr Catherine Haddon, of the Institute for Government, told _The Telegrap_h that new prime ministers will typically appoint their six most senior Cabinet ministers, including the chancellor, home secretary, foreign secretary, justice secretary and education secretary on their first day, with the rest of the Cabinet the following day and more junior ministers a couple of days after that.
She was quoted as telling Bloomberg, “These are the people who are the proxies for the prime minister, who speak for him when he’s not around.”
Apart from picking his team, Starmer and his wife, Victoria, will also be given a briefing on their living arrangements at 10 Downing. This includes where they will park their cars, and arrangements for their children, including how they will get to school.
Writing letters of last resort
Within the first 24 hours of becoming PM, Starmer will also meet with his Chief of the Defence Staff. This is a truly important meeting as the chief will explain to him the process writing letters of last resort with instructions for the commanders of Britain’s Vanguard Class of nuclear-armed submarines if Britain has fallen victim to a nuclear attack and the prime minister is either dead or incapacitated.
The Chief of Defence Staff will also explain to Starmer the nuclear options before him, which will include retaliating, not retaliating, and using their judgement. The Telegraph notes that these letters must be hand-written and the letters written by the previous prime minister will be destroyed without being opened.
Calls galore
Amid this hustle and bustle of meetings, briefings and a change to life as he knows it, Keir Starmer will also receive a bunch of congratulatory calls from world leaders, starting with allied nations including the US.
When David Cameron won the election in 2015, US President Barack Obama called him to congratulate him within half an hour of him arriving at No 10.
All in all, Starmer has a busy 24 hours ahead of him. Let’s see how he manages it though.
With inputs from agencies
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