and as cabinet ministers arrive — we'll bring you the very latest. i'm lewis vaughan jones. in other news... i am running and i'm gonna win again! president biden says he's going nowhere, insisting in a television interview only god could convince him to end his bid for re—election. reformist masoud pezeshkian is elected iran's new president. he beat his hardline rival in a run—off vote. and in the european football championships, france are through to the semi—finals... beating portugal on penalties.

sir keir starmer is beginning his first full day as prime minister, following labour's landslide election victory. he's vowed to start work immediately and, injust a few hours, he will hold a meeting of his newly appointed cabinet. the uk's first female chancellor, rachel reeves —— has already been seen arriving at the door of number 10, the official residence of the new prime minister. we will be following all the comings and goings in the next few hours. but first —— our political correspondent harry farley reports on sir keir starmer�*s first 2a hours as prime minister. sir keir starmer triumphant as he arrived at his new address with his wife victoria. 27 years after labour last won from opposition. the smiles and cheers for the whopping majority the party now has. whether you voted labour or not, in fact especially if you did not, i say

to you directly, my government will serve you. changing a country is not like flicking a switch, the world is now a more volatile place. this will take a while. but have no doubt that the work of change begins immediately. have no doubt that we will rebuild britain. with wealth created in every community. from now on, you have a government unburdened by doctrine, guided only by the determination to serve your interest. to defy quietly those who have written our country off. you have given us a clear mandate. and we will use it to deliver change. earlier there was a meeting with the king.

and later calls with world leaders including the us presidentjoe biden, ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky and the president of the european commission, ursula von der leyen. immediately, we saw the new faces that will run the country. the deputy prime minister will also oversee housing and local government. rachel reeves, the first woman to be chancellor. yvette cooper will be home secretary in charge of immigration and policing. shabana mahmood responsible for prison and the justice system and several others. today that new cabinet will meet here for the first time. they are facing significant challenges with overcrowded prisons, thousands crossing the channel in small boats, presses to increase public sector pay and crises in both housing and local government funding. it was all smiles yesterday but any honeymoon will be short lived. from today, the policy of this department is the nhs is broken. when we said that patients are being failed on a daily basis, it wasn't political

rhetoric but that daily reality faced by millions. for the conservatives was a disaster, the debate over their future and who leads it has already begun. it was the opposite story for the liberal democrats. their share of the vote has barely changed. ased davey led his party to a record 71 it is. i want to thank people for trusting us again. i we will not let you down. we will honour your trust. nigel farage promised to be a disruptor in westminster. although it was his event yesterday that was disrupted protesters. reform uk won more votes than the liberal democrats but spread more thinly around the country. they ended up with five seats. the green party won their best ever results with four mps. we are expecting keir starmer to announce more ministerial appointments today as labour

and server first full day in government in m years. we are keeping an eye on those new ministerial appointments and that next wave that comes over the next few hours. joining me now is our political correspondent nick eardley. nick, we were hearing some of the obvious work that they need to get you straightaway. there is a huge amount in the injury.— amount in the in'ury. yes, it is daunting_ amount in the in'ury. yes, it is daunting for— amount in the in'ury. yes, it is daunting for the]— amount in the injury. yes, it is daunting for the prime - amount in the injury. yes, it is i daunting for the prime minister, it's daunting for the individual ministers who are going to see arriving too. if you think of the way that keir starmer talked about the uk and public services and some of the challenges the country faces he made it clear that a lot of stuff was in a really bad way. be it the nhs, schools, thejustice system, the economy, all these parts of public life, that labour now has to

start grappling with. it is pretty remarkable when you think that a lot of these people who are now in the cabinet who yesterday yesterday morning all of these problems that i have diagnosed over the last couple of years, i now have to solve it. with very few exceptions, none of them have actually been in government before so a huge learning curve. in terms of the votes for reform uk, labourwill curve. in terms of the votes for reform uk, labour will have to work out a strategy of what they actually do to address that issue because it is a significant issue. it’s is a significant issue. it's interesting _ is a significant issue. it�*s interesting because labour has made it clear that it agrees that all the small boats crossing the channel is a problem but it thinks that immigration into the uk is too high. legal migration, net migration is expected to come down significantly anyway because of changes to visa rules but also because a lot of these are running out. and a lot of

people start to leave. the small boats is a really difficult issue to solve. the last government, the conservatives, tried everything and it did not work. this government is trying going to try something very different, it's going to scrap the rwanda scheme, is to confirm that overnight and absolutely no surprise because labour have been saying for ages they were they would do it. they don't have at their own into place now, the home secretary, yvette cooper, who will be arriving soon, a big part of herjob is going to be figuring out a new scheme to try and combat small boat crossings, they have promised this new border force which is going to be a beefed up force which is going to be a beefed up version of security at the border. trying to crack down on gangs,in border. trying to crack down on gangs, in fact, border. trying to crack down on gangs, infact, here border. trying to crack down on gangs, in fact, here is another question. if you end up with a move to the right in france, is that government going to work as closely with the new labour government when it comes to try and stop small boats trying to leave france in the first place? trying to leave france in the first lace? . �* , trying to leave france in the first lace? ., �*, ., ,, trying to leave france in the first lace? ,, , trying to leave france in the first lace? ., �*, ., ,, , ., place? that's a huge issue but more

broadly with — place? that's a huge issue but more broadly with reform _ place? that's a huge issue but more broadly with reform uk _ place? that's a huge issue but more broadly with reform uk i've - place? that's a huge issue but more broadly with reform uk i've heard . broadly with reform uk i've heard senior labourfigures broadly with reform uk i've heard senior labour figures saying the best way to neutralise the nigel farage is not to ignore him but actually to tackle all of those areas that he exploits. i actually to tackle all of those areas that he exploits. i think that is robabl areas that he exploits. i think that is probably the — areas that he exploits. i think that is probably the vast _ areas that he exploits. i think that is probably the vast majority - areas that he exploits. i think that is probably the vast majority of. is probably the vast majority of people in this new government but the fundamental question is actually a different one. can you actually do that? fora a different one. can you actually do that? for a long time that was boris johnson's view, the way you stop a resurgence of the right is about tackling the issues that gets the right vote, in the same way that he failed to do that, as we can see through the election results yesterday, it's going to be really tricky for labour to that. and to do that over the next five years as well. it is worth bearing in mind that reform uk did notjust do well in terms of taking conservative votes, if you speak to people and reformat uk party they are pretty confident that they took a lot of votes from labour including in some of labour's traditional heartlands. we had nigel farage say that

yesterday. his next big target is going to be labour seats. we're getting someone just coming in going to be labour seats. we're getting someonejust coming in here, the new health secretary, health secretary william be able to fix the book on the nhs? i’m secretary william be able to fix the book on the nhs?_ secretary william be able to fix the book on the nhs? i'm going to get to work straightaway. _ book on the nhs? i'm going to get to work straightaway. are _ book on the nhs? i'm going to get to work straightaway. are you _ book on the nhs? i'm going to get to work straightaway. are you going to i work straightaway. are you going to build solve the _ work straightaway. are you going to build solve the junior— work straightaway. are you going to build solve the junior doctor - build solve the junior doctor strikes? mr street, have you got the money? i ask those questions and he says we're going to get a work straightaway. a lot of people asked mrs why we do it on the simple reason why i have been doing this for years is that they do sometimes give you an answer. maybe 10% of the time, wes streeting are saying they get to work, he has that huge job, he has said that he thinks the nhs is broken and that is the stance of the new government. the question for he thinks it is —— of the question for him is how he fixes it. maybe he can find a solution to thatjunior doctor strikes which the conservatives were unable to do. we are getting someone walking in here,

louise haigh, the transport secretary. are you going to get the train is fixed transport secretary? can you believe the scale of the landslide?— can you believe the scale of the landslide? ., �* , ., , ., ., landslide? that's louise haigh, one ofthe landslide? that's louise haigh, one of the privately _ landslide? that's louise haigh, one of the privately educated _ landslide? that's louise haigh, one of the privately educated members| landslide? that's louise haigh, one l of the privately educated members of the cabinet we're talking about before she has a trickyjob on her hands too. she has to try to get the trains to run on time.— trains to run on time. there are so many areas. _ trains to run on time. there are so many areas, housing _ trains to run on time. there are so many areas, housing is _ trains to run on time. there are so many areas, housing is one - trains to run on time. there are so many areas, housing is one that i trains to run on time. there are so many areas, housing is one that isj many areas, housing is one that is one that labour is indicating they're going to address, sort of, planning laws, pretty quickly, it does not sound particularly glamorous but a huge amount depends on that, doesn't it? the glamorous but a huge amount depends on that, doesn't it?— on that, doesn't it? the argument that the labour _ on that, doesn't it? the argument that the labour party _ on that, doesn't it? the argument that the labour party has - on that, doesn't it? the argument| that the labour party has made for on that, doesn't it? the argument i that the labour party has made for a couple of years ago is that the run reason why there is homes lack —— lack of homes in the uk is planning permission problems. what they have called the grey belt, where you just can't build even though it is not particularly valuable land. they are going to change the rules on that to try and make them a bit more

accessible. good morning, mr kyle. what is the priority for your department? he says he is pleased by the scale of the victory. it's always a bit awkward when they say hi nick, how are you. i'm hoping for a political answer is not a hello! that's peter kyle, the cabinet minister for that's peter kyle, the cabinet ministerfor science, that's peter kyle, the cabinet minister for science, technology and innovation. , ., , ., , minister for science, technology and innovation. , ., , _ innovation. they are pleased by the victo , innovation. they are pleased by the victory. and — innovation. they are pleased by the victory. and on _ innovation. they are pleased by the victory, and on that _ innovation. they are pleased by the victory, and on that point, - innovation. they are pleased by the victory, and on that point, the - innovation. they are pleased by the victory, and on that point, the size | victory, and on that point, the size of the victory, the size of the majority could, should technically make things easier to actually get stuff done. . , make things easier to actually get stuff done. ., , , ., stuff done. certainly in terms of caettin stuff done. certainly in terms of getting things — stuff done. certainly in terms of getting things in _ stuff done. certainly in terms of getting things in parliament. i stuff done. certainly in terms ofj getting things in parliament. good morning, miss philipson. that's bridget philipson, the new education secretary. yes, look, it's absolutely right to say that keir starmer will be able to get stuff through parliament. maybe when he was trying to put plans together for government he was not sure he would be able to get through but he has a stonking majority. ithink be able to get through but he has a stonking majority. i think there might still to be some trouble in

the labour party, there are people on the left of labour who like to wind up the leadership a bit or at least challenge the leadership. thea;r least challenge the leadership. they alwa s sa least challenge the leadership. they always say that _ least challenge the leadership. they always say that about large majorities, that it sometimes enables people to on the fringes to think i will rebel on this because it doesn't really matter because the numbers are there. but i suppose where party discipline will really kicking... where party discipline will really kickin: . .. , where party discipline will really kickina... , , kicking... yes, absolutely. i remember _ kicking... yes, absolutely. i remember standing - kicking... yes, absolutely. i remember standing here . kicking... yes, absolutely. i | remember standing here five kicking... yes, absolutely. i - remember standing here five years ago and borisjohnson became prime minister with a majority of around 80 and the exact same, that life would be a lot easier for him than it had been for his predecessors. good morning, attorney general! surprised to get the job! that's the new attorney general. richard hannah, he was one of the surprises. 0ne hannah, he was one of the surprises. one of the only surprises. generally thornbury had been the shadow attorney general and not any more. i wonder if she might get one of those junior ministerialjobs that we are getting announced later today. in

terms of that appointment and it has been said of keir starmer that he is really focused on recognising the levers of power is he has and is a crucial one in that is the people he put in place. crucial one in that is the people he put in place-— put in place. absolutely. and what is really interesting _ put in place. absolutely. and what is really interesting to _ put in place. absolutely. and what is really interesting to me - put in place. absolutely. and what is really interesting to me and - put in place. absolutely. and what is really interesting to me and we | is really interesting to me and we will see how this pans out over the next couple of years, there is a feeling in the upper echelons of the labour party that all the people that we have seen walking on the front door are game ready. they have had no shadow portfolios for months and in some cases years. in had no shadow portfolios for months and in some cases years.— and in some cases years. in that case, and in some cases years. in that case. huge _ and in some cases years. in that case, huge expertise... - and in some cases years. in that case, huge expertise... fair- and in some cases years. in that l case, huge expertise... fair point. he only got _ case, huge expertise... fair point. he only got the — case, huge expertise... fair point. he only got the job _ case, huge expertise... fair point. he only got the job yesterday. - he only got the job yesterday. richard turner is a well respected caseyin richard turner is a well respected casey in the top of his profession and he's been brought in for that reason. richard timson from their chimps chiltern chain who is a prison minister and patrick vallance as their chief scientific adviser and the science minister. people with real gravitas. the whole case

for keir starmer and his team. because of the cabinet ministers we have seen walking and there have beenin have seen walking and there have been in jobs for a have seen walking and there have been injobs for a while, they have figured out what they can do with the job. figured out what they can do with thejob. keir starmer told figured out what they can do with the job. keir starmer told them figured out what they can do with thejob. keir starmer told them a few months ago, i don't want you doing things on day one that you could have been doing months ago. we've all been told to act like we were getting ready to take on those cabinet roles so it be really interesting to see what is ready to go and the ways in which they can hit the ground running. that go and the ways in which they can hit the ground running.— hit the ground running. that is the oint hit the ground running. that is the point where _ hit the ground running. that is the point where will _ hit the ground running. that is the point where will we _ hit the ground running. that is the point where will we have - hit the ground running. that is the point where will we have today - hit the ground running. that is the | point where will we have today the news conference that comes a bit later the underlying of the first steps. that was not as laid out in the manifesto and just remind us, in those key areas, education, transport, nhs, what were those first steps that labour have promised to actually deliver? let’s promised to actually deliver? let's have a look — promised to actually deliver? let's have a look at _ promised to actually deliver? let's have a look at what _ promised to actually deliver? let's have a look at what was _ promised to actually deliver? let's have a look at what was in - promised to actually deliver? let�*s have a look at what was in the manifesto so, the pledge that labour have on education is to introduce vat on private schools and to use that money to hire more teachers are

for the state system in england and consequential is for devolved governments as well. i'm not sure how quick they will be able to bring in vat on private schools i suspect that it will take a few months. it certainly cannot happen until after a budget. that's robbie going to happen in the autumn. that will take a bit of time. when it comes to the nhs, there is 40,000 extra appointments in the health system in england that were promised. that can't happen overnight although i think labour will want to try and get that in places as soon as possible. what i think labour will hopefully be able to do is to resolve some of the pay dispute is a bit quicker. the one thing that really struck me about keir starmer�*s statement when he made it about a metre away from where we are now, he made that statement in downing street yesterday, he wasn't saying we're going to solve the stuff straightaway, he was at pains to say that this will take time and in some ways, that is a form of expectation management. saying that we cannot do this overnight, we will

try to deliver some of the stuff as quickly as possible but in the broader promises that we have made, it will take time. it broader promises that we have made, it will take time.— it will take time. it was so interesting _ it will take time. it was so interesting in _ it will take time. it was so interesting in that - it will take time. it was so interesting in that speech | it will take time. it was so - interesting in that speech when he said that if he was asked the question if your child to —— if your children in britain with a better off if the answer is no will promise to work every single day to change your mind. that the what he said from that lectern yesterday in downing street. let's continue the conversation, let's talk to lord 0'donnell who served as cabinet secretary and head of the civil service from 2005 to 2011, under prime minister tony blair, gordon brown, and david cameron. welcome to the programme. just for people watching and joining us, just give us an insight into what those first 24—hour is, 36 hours is really like behind that door. it’s 24-hour is, 36 hours is really like behind that door.— behind that door. it's pretty hectic, i behind that door. it's pretty hectic. i can _ behind that door. it's pretty hectic, i can tell— behind that door. it's pretty hectic, i can tell you. - behind that door. it's pretty| hectic, i can tell you. having behind that door. it's pretty - hectic, i can tell you. having been clapped in, coming back from... the

new prime is still be confronted by all the challenges of government so getting together a cabinet, which he has done, organising the first cabinet meeting which is about to take place. but there is also a parent didn't make a lot of personal issues, you are moving home, people forget it's a very personal thing, the family are moving in, however children going to like living at number ten. all of those issues, the work patterns, vying who is in office next to the banister is going on. on top of that, he would have had lots of phone calls with world leaders, he will be thinking now about some of the issues that he has had to make some changes, i know he believes in continuity, he wants people in place, his cabinet in place, to see through as much as the remake of the parliament as possible. so, he will be upset that he has had to change the secretary of state for culture media and sport but that's already been organised.

ashworth will be a blow to him. they will start to say what are our priorities and your absolute right in that for him this is a long game now. he has got to start saying to people, look, if we are going to change things radically we need to get in place the processes. some of the bureaucratic stuff around that. how do you turn government into a reality? a lot of cut dealer crosscutting issues across parliament so it's a very busy time. then he has got the preparation for the international meetings coming up, the nato summit, anti—european meetings in blenheim palace. so, yes, a very full diary. this meetings in blenheim palace. so, yes, a very full diary.— yes, a very full diary. as you are completing _ yes, a very full diary. as you are completing that _ yes, a very full diary. as you are completing that sentence, - yes, a very full diary. as you are completing that sentence, ed i completing that sentence, ed miliband arriving here for the cabinet meeting. ed miliband, in terms of the victory, your

thoughts... terms of the victory, your thoughts. . ._ terms of the victory, your thoughts... terms of the victory, your thou~hts... ., �* , thoughts... how quickly i'll be caettin thoughts... how quickly i'll be getting lower _ thoughts... how quickly i'll be getting lower bills _ thoughts... how quickly i'll be getting lower bills on - thoughts... how quickly i'll be i getting lower bills on electricity? morning mr lambie. mr getting lower bills on electricity? morning mr lambie. mr miliband, you have promised — morning mr lambie. mr miliband, you have promised more... _ morning mr lambie. mr miliband, you have promised more... ed _ morning mr lambie. mr miliband, you have promised more... ed miliband i have promised more... ed miliband auoin in have promised more... ed miliband going in and — have promised more... ed miliband going in and the — have promised more... ed miliband going in and the foreign _ have promised more... ed miliband going in and the foreign secretary, | going in and the foreign secretary, david lammy, also going in. ed miliband saying jokingly that they are all surprised that there is a labour victory, of course, reflecting on his attempt to get into number ten. gus o'donnell, you mentioned the round of international calls, i was reading tom fletcher posting about this. he worked in number ten back in 2010, he talked about the nerve—racking moment trying to line up a call with president 0bama and fudged the line,

told david cameron that the call would come in there and held in his hand —— held his head in his hand. how important are those reset moments, do you think? thea;r how important are those reset moments, do you think? they are very im ortant. moments, do you think? they are very important- this — moments, do you think? they are very important. this quite _ moments, do you think? they are very important. this quite often _ moments, do you think? they are very important. this quite often your- important. this quite often your first impression. so keir starmer would have met president biden already but it's that instant moment when they are calling you to congratulate you on your very large majority and there is nothing politicians admire about other politicians admire about other politicians than one than that wins an election. keir starmer will be something like, wow, i wish i could do that. it gives him an opportunity to say here are the three things that i really care about and that someone like tom fletcher, who is a brilliant private secretary on the foreign—policy side, we'll have said, here is three things to mention. that will be true for biden, former president macron, for so many of the calls. of course,

remember, there is always a personal bit, in the middle of that there will be member of keir starmer�*s family who will want to crack congratulate him as well stop you have to juggle all of that. —— members of keir starmer�*s family who want to congratulate him as well. think about labour's huge results in scotland being absolutely definitive. rachel reeves, the chancellor is coming in. delighted b the chancellor is coming in. delighted by the scale _ chancellor is coming in. delighted by the scale of — chancellor is coming in. delighted by the scale of the _ chancellor is coming in. delighted by the scale of the victory. - chancellor is coming in. delighted by the scale of the victory. have l by the scale of the victory. have you got the money to pay off the junior doctors? aha, you got the money to pay off the junior doctors?— you got the money to pay off the junior doctors? a huge smile but no answers to — junior doctors? a huge smile but no answers to any _ junior doctors? a huge smile but no answers to any of _ junior doctors? a huge smile but no answers to any of those _ junior doctors? a huge smile but no answers to any of those questions l answers to any of those questions about money or intentions. walks past a number ten into number 11. hilary benn going in to number ten. behind me. huge smiles from all of them. i behind me. huge smiles from all of them. ., ., .,

them. i have to say i admire the discipline- _ them. i have to say i admire the discipline- i— them. i have to say i admire the discipline. i think _ them. i have to say i admire the discipline. i think it's _ them. i have to say i admire the discipline. i think it's very - them. i have to say i admire the discipline. i think it's very good. j discipline. i think it's very good. the whole point of having a cabinet meeting is to sort out what you are going to say what you are going to do. so, pre—empting by saying in advance... i5 do. so, pre-empting by saying in advance---_ advance... is the uk safe under labour? gus— advance... is the uk safe under labour? gus o'donnell, - advance... is the uk safe under labour? gus o'donnell, what i advance... is the uk safe under. labour? gus o'donnell, what was advance... is the uk safe under- labour? gus o'donnell, what was the best bit of advice that you gave or you heard given to an incoming foreign minister.— you heard given to an incoming foreign minister. pace yourself, number one- — foreign minister. pace yourself, number one. i _ foreign minister. pace yourself, number one. i have _ foreign minister. pace yourself, number one. i have seen - foreign minister. pace yourself, | number one. i have seen people foreign minister. pace yourself, - number one. i have seen people being tired, they have been campaigning all night and sometimes they feel compelled to make decisions too quickly. i think, just take your time, yes, you want to start well, your first hundred days and all the rest of it is very important but take your time. get some rest in and get to know your senior civil servants, look at the briefs they have prepared for you in great

detail, they will have been doing that over the last few weeks over the election campaign. and work out how you can do this this incredibly exacting job. how you can do this this incredibly exactingjob. don't how you can do this this incredibly exacting job. don't rush into things because you feel that dare i say it, you, the media, want immediate answers. , , , answers. let me pause you there, gus o'donnell. yvette _ answers. let me pause you there, gus o'donnell. yvette cooper, _ answers. let me pause you there, gus o'donnell. yvette cooper, the - answers. let me pause you there, gus o'donnell. yvette cooper, the home l 0'donnell. yvette cooper, the home secretary, going in so one by one the cabinet ministers going in and... , ., ~ , the cabinet ministers going in and... , ., ~ the cabinet ministers going in and... , .,~ , ., and... delighted to keep your seat? that shabana _ and... delighted to keep your seat? that shabana my _ and... delighted to keep your seat? that shabana my mood. _ and... delighted to keep your seat? that shabana my mood. the - and... delighted to keep your seat? that shabana my mood. the smiles| and... delighted to keep your seat? . that shabana my mood. the smiles are huge as we see those cabinet ministers going in. gus o'donnell, let me bring you back in and apologies that we keep on breaking away from you. you mention the civil service there, how much preparation has been done in those various

departments, may be anticipating this result because it was pretty well telegraphed? this result because it was pretty well telegraphed ?_ this result because it was pretty well telegraphed? they will have been a lot of— well telegraphed? they will have been a lot of preparation. - well telegraphed? they will have been a lot of preparation. the i been a lot of preparation. the former prime minister rishi sunak gave approvalfor what we former prime minister rishi sunak gave approval for what we call access to take place which is when the saddo secretaries... and talk about what their priorities were from the start. —— to take place when the secretaries... those things that would have taken place before, ed miliband, for example, pat mcfadden, will have worked much more closely with the civil service, they know each other and trust and respect each other, i think we will see them more prepared than some of the others for whom it is the first time. as a minister, even, and as a cabinet minister. it will be variable, apache, the civil service

permits... variable, apache, the civil service permits- - -— permits... because i 'ust want to -ause permits... because i 'ust want to pause there. h permits... because i just want to pause there. apologies - permits... because i just want to pause there. apologies court -- | pause there. apologies court —— apologies for constantly interrupting we saw the deputy panellist angela raynerjust going in there in at number ten and i will come back to you in a second but they are as the door closes, we have had one by one most of the key players in the new british cabinet arriving for the first cabinet meeting. we saw rachel reeves going in at number 11 and we expect that cabinet meeting to start in about 30 minutes' time. of course, throughout the day here on bbc news, we will have continuous coverage of that. backin have continuous coverage of that. back in and again, apologies of to have to constantly break away but in

terms of chief secretary to... at the cabinet office, the cabinet secretary, you served with a number of prime ministers, are we likely to see a change in that particular post? i see a change in that particular ost? ., . see a change in that particular ost? ~' . ., , post? i think the current cabinet secretary is _ post? i think the current cabinet secretary is now _ post? i think the current cabinet secretary is now working - post? i think the current cabinet secretary is now working for - post? i think the current cabinet secretary is now working for his| secretary is now working for his fourth prime minister and i'm sure his number one priority will be to make sure the transition goes well. as to how long he wants to stay in post, i do not know. what i do know is that knowing keir starmer and knowing his chief of staff, sue gray, i'm sure that if they were to be a change, they would do it in the proper way having a formal competition and making sure that the prime minister has had a chance to get to know various people and to

come to a decision as to who keir starmer thinks is the right person to carry on if, indeed, they decide they want to change an assignment decides, who has been ill, let's be honest, decides he wants his last chance to be to see this transition through smoothly puzzled. i don't it will be any decisions there yet. when we heard from keir starmer, again and again, in that speech in downing street, he talked about public service, when you heard that, how refreshing was that for you? i was... that was fantastic. that's what the civil service will want to hear. we want a return to ethical government with honesty and integrity, ministers telling the truth to parliament, hugely important. and the relationship between civil servants and ministers which understands our different roles and trust and respect on both

sides. clarity for ministers about the vision, what they want to achieve, you know, it's fairly clear from what keir starmer is saying that he has this idea that public service, it improving the world, i think he very much want to say i have made peoples lives better. i have made peoples lives better. i have improved their well—being, you know, really made a difference to what matters to people. that, you know, we know the kinds of things that are really important, the cost of living crisis, health, mental health issues, it's getting a lot of people back into work who are currently inactive, to use the technical term, there is a big agenda there. i think, you know, technical term, there is a big agenda there. ithink, you know, the sooner they get on with it the better but that means getting in there, analysing these issues, looking at the evidence as to what really works and the practicalities of how they can implement some of

the wordy desires that are in the manifesto because at the moment they face really very difficult imperatives. i remember 97. tony blair coming in with really, a very good economy, public finances, that is not the situation now, the economy is struggling, public finances, we have debt at roughly 100%, there is a lot of work to be done. improving public services, keeping yourfiscal done. improving public services, keeping your fiscal rules, and not increasing the tax rates that they promise they won't do, that is a challenge. and it's one which rachel reeves will have to grapple with straightaway. it is reeves will have to grapple with straightaway-— straightaway. it is not 'ust the list of issues * straightaway. it is not 'ust the list of issues that _ straightaway. it is not 'ust the list of issues that you b straightaway. it is notjust the list of issues that you went. list of issues that you went through, it is also, crucially, trust, isn't it ? there's all sorts of issues that

they have _ ? there's all sorts of issues that they have been _ ? there's all sorts of issues that they have been putting - ? there's all sorts of issues that they have been putting forward, j ? there's all sorts of issues that - they have been putting forward, the committee on standards in public life, there's a number of practical things they can do which will make a real difference and will ensure that we come back to a situation that happened during most of my time in government, where we have an understanding of everyone knows that honesty, objectivity, integrity, impartiality, those of the civil service values, and we really need governments to pick up on that honesty and integrity, and basically coming clean with the british public about what the situation is really like and what the difficult options it faces are. things are not easy. i heard a reporter talking to the cabinet minister coming in, saying when other homes going to be built?

it will take a while. things are not