大象传媒

Starmer thanks Hunt's children for 'sweet' notes

Britain's incoming Prime Minister Keir Starmer and leader of the Labour Party, and his wife Victoria enter 10 Downing Street in LondonImage source, Getty Images
  • Published

The prime minister has thanked the former chancellor Jeremy Hunt鈥檚 children for the 鈥渟weet and thoughtful鈥 notes they left for his children when they first arrived in Downing Street.

Sir Keir Starmer has now been prime minister for a week and has been telling reporters about the adjustments he and his family have been making.

He told us he went from 鈥渃hecking into a hotel that was more like a bed and breakfast in Carmarthen鈥 in the last few days of campaigning to heading to the NATO summit in Washington DC.

His wife Victoria accompanied him on his first overseas trip in the role and was pictured with him on the balcony of the White House after a dinner with other NATO leaders and their spouses.

鈥淟ook, it鈥檚 a big transition for Vic and even more for the kids," he said.

"But Vic鈥檚 very pleased to be doing it. It鈥檚 great to have her by my side,鈥 the prime minister said.

The family is yet to move into Downing Street, where they are expected to live in the bigger flat above No11, rather than the one above No10.

He said: 鈥淲e will take a bit more time with the kids.

"We haven鈥檛 moved in yet because I didn鈥檛 want them left on their own while the two of us were away this week, so we鈥檒l just take a bit more time on that.鈥

The Starmers have a son and a daughter, both teenagers.

Neither have been named publicly in the hope they can maintain some normality in their lives.

But they did receive a welcome surprise from one of the families moving out of Downing Street.

鈥淛eremy Hunt's children left notes for our children coming into the Number 11 flat,鈥 the prime minister said.

鈥淚t was very nice. I think that was really sweet and thoughtful of them to do that because for children this is very impactful.

"They have been through it. They are slightly different ages but for them to be thoughtful enough to leave a note is very special.

"Our children were very pleased to get those notes."

Image source, PA Media
Image caption,

Jeremy Hunt lived with his wife and three children in the flat in 11 Downing Street

Jeremy Hunt left Downing Street in front of the cameras within hours of the Conservatives losing the general election.

It is understood that the notes left by Mr Hunt鈥檚 children contained advice on living at 11 Downing Street.

When parliament gathered for the first time since the election on Tuesday, the new prime minister had a chance for a brief conversation with his predecessor.

"I did have a warm chat with Rishi Sunak,鈥 Sir Keir said.

"There has never been any personal animosity. We are political opponents.

"That gets quite heated during a general election campaign. But I have never had any personal animosity.鈥