The Future of British Politics

Labour has secured a much-anticipated election victory – putting them in government for the first time in 14 years.

But what needs to happen for the exchange of power?

From car journeys to Buckingham Palace to packing up Downing Street, selecting a cabinet and getting parliament into business, Sky News looks at what happens now.

Off to see the King

Rishi Sunak will visit the King at Buckingham Palace the morning after the election to tender his resignation.

After Mr Sunak leaves, it’s time for Sir Keir Starmer to arrive.

He will have received a call from Buckingham Palace in advance of the meeting, giving him time or telling him to “stand by”.

Sir Keir will then be asked by the King to form a new government.

The meeting is historically known as “kissing hands,” although the incoming prime minister no longer does this… a bow and handshake will do.

The incoming prime minister usually arrives at Buckingham Palace in their own car and leaves in the prime minister’s official car.

The Future of British Politics: What’s Next for Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister?

When do we get a new cabinet?

The cabinet is the PM’s top team, made up of 22 ministers with responsibility for specific areas, including the economy, education, and culture.

Sir Keir already has his shadow cabinet waiting in the wings.

After the last Labour reshuffle in September 2023, he indicated this would be the team he would take into government, saying the party had “a strong team on the pitch that is ready to deliver the change our country desperately needs.”.

There may be some changes, but we won’t have to wait long to find out. Sir Keir will start naming his cabinet soon after he’s confirmed as PM.

The Future of British Politics: What’s Next for Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister?

When will Sir Keir move into Downing Street?

Sir Keir will travel to Downing Street after he has met with the King at Buckingham Palace.

He is expected to then give a speech before he enters Number 10 for the first time as prime minister, traditionally to applause from staff.

Sir Keir has not yet indicated whether he will follow Mr. Sunak’s lead and live at Number 10, or copy a string of prime ministers going back to 1997 and take the larger flat above Number 11 instead.

Whatever he chooses, new prime ministers do not always move in immediately.

When the Conservatives took power in 2010, it was three weeks before the Cameron family moved to Downing Street.

It took Theresa May a week to settle in, while Boris Johnson gave it five days.

The Future of British Politics: What’s Next for Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister?

Week Four Election Trail Recap

When will Rishi Sunak move out of Downing Street?

Mr Sunak will move out of Number 10 immediately.The Future of British Politics: What’s Next for Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister?

Who could be the next Tory leader?

Mr Sunak’s defeat likely means he will step down as leader of the Conservative Party, so who can replace him?

Kemi Badenoch

The former business secretary is seen as a darling of the right and ran in the first Tory leadership contest of 2022 following Boris Johnson’s resignation.

Suella Braverman:

She was brought in as home secretary to cater to the rights of the party. Her sacking in November 2023—over comments suggesting homelessness is a “lifestyle choice”—may have affected her standing, but her hardline stance on immigration has won her fans in the party.

James Cleverly 

The recent home secretary and former foreign secretary is being talked about in moderate Tory circles as a candidate who could unify the party.

Robert Jenrick:

He held several ministerial roles, including community secretary. As he was originally a Sunak loyalist and was appointed immigration minister, but resigned over what he saw as the Rwanda plan’s weaknesses. He has shifted to a tougher stance on immigration since quitting the government.

Priti Patel,

The former home secretary is seen as one of the more traditional right-wing MPs in the party.

Tom Tugendhat

is regarded highly among the One Nation group of moderate Tory MPs. He ran to become Tory leader after Mr. Johnson was ousted, but was knocked out of the race early.

David Cameron:

Lord Cameron was brought in by Mr. Sunak to be foreign secretary in what was a shock return to frontline politics. A return as party leader would be even more of a shock and should be viewed as a remote possibility at this stage.

When is the new parliament meeting?

The new parliament will meet for the first time on July 9.

One of its first tasks will be to elect the Speaker of the House Commons, a role held by Sir Lindsay Hoyle before parliament was dissolved pre-election.

The swearing-in of MPs will start then and could take two or three days.

MPs can only take their seats, take part in votes and debates, and receive a salary once they have taken the oath or affirmation of allegiance to the King.

Then, on July 17, the state opening of parliament and the King’s Speech will mark the official start of the new parliament.

The King’s Speech is written by the government. It provides an opportunity to set priorities. These include laws the government aims to pass through parliament in the coming year.

After a break, the King’s Speech is delivered. Then, speeches by the prime minister and leader of the opposition follow. A debate ensues. The session culminates in a vote. The vote is largely symbolic. It’s rare for a government to lose it.

The Future of British Politics: What’s Next for Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister?

Does the new government have to hold a budget?

A budget is needed if the government wants to raise taxes—something Labour pledged not to do for “working people” in its manifesto.

The party has ruled out increases to income tax, national insurance, corporation tax, or any form of wealth tax.

Emergency budgets sometimes take place after general elections, so the new government can announce changes to taxes and spending.

But in June, then-shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves ruled out an emergency budget soon after the election.

She indicated that Labor would “do things in a proper way.” A budget announcement is expected to be made sometime around September.

The Office for Budget Responsibility requires 10 weeks’ notice to prepare an independent forecast before the budget. Ms. Reeves has committed not to deliver a fiscal event without an OBR forecast.

The Future of British Politics: What’s Next for Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister?

When does recess start?

During the summer recess, Parliament’s House of Commons and House of Lords did not meet to conduct business.

It normally runs from late July to early September. The exact dates of this year’s break have not yet been announced.

Parliament would normally wrap up after the King’s Speech, due to take place on 17 July.

Labour announced that they would delay the summer recess for MPs until the end of July. This decision was made before the election.

The Future of British Politics: What’s Next for Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister?

What will be at the top of Sir Keir’s in-tray?

On day one, Sir Keir will meet the cabinet secretary, take some sobering moments to write the four “letters of last resort” every new prime minister must write to the commanders of Britain’s nuclear submarines in the event of a deadly attack, and then get on with appointing his cabinet.

His chief of staff, Sue Gray, has been working intensively on preparing for the government. She has focused on a list of tricky issues that they will have to tackle.

Among them is the prison crisis. UK jails are nearly full. Prison governors have warned of public disorder if places are freed up.

Public-sector pay will be an early priority. Junior doctors are planning to go on strike the week before polling day. Labor has promised to work on resolving the issue.

Universities say they are struggling to stay afloat and are calling for an increase in fees, while Britain’s biggest water company, Thames Water, is at risk of financial collapse.

Recommendations for new pay settlements with nurses, teachers, and other public sector workers have been traditionally agreed in July and will be at the top of cabinet ministers’ inboxes, with the Institute for Fiscal Studies estimating these could cost £6–£7bn immediately.

Within days, the new prime minister will head to NATO’s 75th anniversary summit in Washington, still in the glow of victory.

The Future of British Politics: What’s Next for Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister?

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