UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Sir Keir Starmer is spending his first overseas holiday as Prime Minister with his family in Madeira, following the tragic death of his brother.
Despite having access to Chequers, his official country retreat, Sir Keir had to cancel his scheduled summer holiday in August after widespread rioting in multiple areas and cities.
Sir Starmer’s family left for a post-Christmas break abroad last week, but he remained in the UK following the passing of his younger brother, Nick, on Boxing Day.
Sources reveal Keir Starmer departed the UK on Saturday to spend quality time with his family and is expected to be away for several days, with no public engagements planned by next week.Â
As reported by The Guardian, the holiday locations of the prime minister are not disclosed and they will be kept private due to security reasons. However, the local press in Madeira has reported Sir Starmer’s presence, and it is believed to be the right information.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner, has stated that he is staying in charge and will lead from his holiday destination.
Sir Starmer has discussed the challenges of balancing family time with his wife, Victoria, and their teenage children, due to his busy schedule.
Their planned holiday in August was postponed after a series of violent outbreaks in several local areas and districts, sparked by the death of three young girls at a Southport dance class. Axel Rudakubana, then 17, has been charged with murder and will face trial in January.
News broke on Friday that Keir Starmer’s brother, 60 years old, had passed away the previous day.
In the past, the prime minister has talked about his protective nature toward his brother Nick, who suffered from learning capabilities due to birth complications. Keir Starmer has discussed his brother and father in multiple interviews.
The PM in a statement, described his younger brother as “a wonderful man” who “met all the challenges life threw at him with courage and good humour”.
Meanwhile, Keir Starmer is heading abroad for vacation, a new survey reveals that if a general election were held today, the Labour Party would lose its majority and nearly 200 seats secured in recent July elections.
According to an analysis for The Sunday Times, which surveyed over 11,000 people, Starmer’s party could see a near collapse in areas like the West Country, where newly elected MPs have faced backlash over inheritance tax changes for farmers.
According to a recent survey, seven senior cabinet ministers are expected to lose their seats, six of them to Reform, while Health Secretary Wes Streeting would lose Ilford North to an independent nominee.
Among those losing to Reform are Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Defence Secretary John Healey, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds.
More In Commons, who is behind the survey, its executive director, Luke Tryl stated,
“There is no doubt that many voters have found the start of the Starmer government disappointing, and Labour’s estimated vote share would drop significantly were there to be an election tomorrow.”
The analysis anticipates that the next general election might end Britain’s two-party system, with 271 seats secured by candidates getting less than a third of the vote.