Starmer thanks Biden for telephone name – and seems to interrupt 6pm promise

Sir Keir Starmer tonight thanked Joe Biden for his first phone call with the US President, and with it appeared to break his promise not to work past 6pm on Fridays. 

Rishi Sunak had seized on the Labour leader’s comments in the days leading up to the election that he tried to avoid working past the hour, with the Tories branding him a ‘part-time Prime Minister’.

But it seems as though Sir Keir has broken his pledge in a matter of hours on his first day in the job as he sent a message to the president. 

Writing on X/ Twitter at just gone 9pm, more than three hours past Sir Keir’s supposed clocking off time, he wrote: ‘Thank you @POTUS for your continued commitment to the special relationship between our two nations. I look forward to working with you.’

The PM had previously spoken about his determination to hold on to his family time while in office. 

‘I do carve out Friday nights, as best I can, for Vic and the kids and her dad as protected time,’ he said this week.

‘Her dad’s side of the family is Jewish, as people will appreciate, and we use that for family prayers – not every Friday, but not infrequently.

‘That doesn’t mean I’ve never had to work on a Friday, of course it doesn’t, plenty of times I haven’t been able to do it. But I’ve tried to protect that time. I’d like to try and protect it in the future but I know very well, it’s going to be really difficult to do it.

Mr Biden sent his congratulations to the newly-elected Prime Minister on winning the general election ahead of the two leaders meeting at a crucial Nato summit in Washington DC next week. 

A White House statement revealed they discussed the importance of the two countries working together ‘in support of freedom and democracy around the world’. 

And they both reiterated their support for Ukraine in their war against the  ‘unrelenting aggression’ of despot Vladimir Putin‘s Russia.      

It comes after other world leaders congratulated Sir Keir on Labour‘s landslide victory, with Canada‘s Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron among the first leaders to welcome him.

The White House statement read: ‘President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom to congratulate him on his appointment as Prime Minister. 

‘The leaders reaffirmed the special relationship between our nations and the importance of working together in support of freedom and democracy around the world. 

‘The President conveyed that he is looking forward to working closely with Prime Minister Starmer on the full range of critical issues that affect our countries and committed to deepening U.S.-UK cooperation in the many areas of our shared interest. 

‘They reiterated their continued support for Ukraine as it fights Russia’s unrelenting aggression. 

‘They affirmed their shared commitment to protecting the gains of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and working with the leaders of Northern Ireland to create and sustain economic growth and opportunities. 

‘The President looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister Starmer to the Washington Summit next week to celebrate NATO’s 75th anniversary.’

Ukraine‘s President Zelensky hailed a ‘convincing victory’ by Sir Keir and his party and wished the incoming government ‘every success both in domestic affairs and in solidifying the UK’s leadership on the world stage.’

He said that Ukraine and the UK would continue to be ‘reliable allies through thick and thin’, with ‘common values of life, freedom, and a rules-based international order.’

The wartime leader went on to laud former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, describing him as a ‘good friend’ and vowing that his country would ‘never forget’ the help it had received from his government.

Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shared a triumphant response to the news of his ‘friend’ Keir Starmer’s victory, labelling it a ‘historic UK election victory’.

‘Lots of work ahead to build a more progressive, fair future for people on both sides of the Atlantic,’ he wrote on X alongside a picture of them together. ‘Let’s get to it, my friend.’ 

France’s President Macron shared his congratulations to Sir Keir, adding that he was ‘pleased with our first discussion,’ in a sign that the incoming leader is already engaging in international diplomacy.

‘We will continue the work begun with the UK for our bilateral cooperation, for peace and security in Europe, for the climate and for AI,’ Macron added.

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed both Sir Keir and Angela Rayner as his deputy taking up the reins of power, saying that they share ‘very similar views’ with his Labour government.

Writing on X, he said: ‘We have a strong relationship between our two countries, but in Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner and so many others who I am very familiar with in the British Labour Party, I look forward very much to working with them.

‘They have very similar views to us on a range of issues. I’m sure we’ll work closely on AUKUS, where we worked very closely as well with the former government.’

Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris said he hopes his nation’s relationship with the UK will go from ‘strength to strength’ as he congratulated Sir Keir Starmer for his election victory.

‘Congratulations (Sir Keir) on a comprehensive victory in the UK election,’ he posted to X.

‘I look forward to working with you as close neighbours and friends.

‘The relationship between Ireland and the UK is deep and consequential. I look forward to it going from strength to strength.’

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christpopher Luxon wrote on X: ‘Congratulations @Keir_Starmer on your election victory. 

‘New Zealand and the UK are great friends and can do so much more together. I look forward to working on every opportunity together as prime ministers. 

He added his thanks to Mr Sunak for his ‘service to your nation and friendship to New Zealand.’ 

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog also thanked Mr Sunak, expressing his gratitude ‘for his leadership and standing by the State of Israel, especially during this difficult time,’ referring to the aftermath of October 7 and Israel’s war in Gaza.

Meanwhile President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said he was ‘looking forward to working’ with Sir Keir in what he called a ‘new cycle for the UK’.

‘The European Union and the UK are crucial partners, co-operating in all areas of mutual interest for our citizens,’ he said.

He added that they would meet soon at a European Political Community summit being held in the UK on July 18, ‘where we will discuss common challenges, including stability, security, energy and migration.’

Ursula Von Der Leyen, President of the European Commission, also shared her congratulations on X, telling the incoming Prime Minister: ‘I look forward to working with you in a constructive partnership to address common challenges and strengthen European security.’ 

Sir Keir’s first opportunity to meet with world leaders as Prime Minister will come on Tuesday, when he will head to Washington for the NATO summit, hosted by US President Joe Biden.