Lady Starmer leads ‘Team Keir’ in Downing Street as PM’s family and closest allies gather to watch his tearful resignation – but where was Rachel Reeves?

As Victoria Starmer led ‘Team Keir’ in Downing Street this morning, the Prime Minister’s family and closest allies gathered to watch her tearful resignation speech.

Shortly after 9.30am, Keir Starmer was greeted with cheers and applause from his supporters as he emerged from No10 with Lady Starmer.

The prime minister’s wife then stood with Sir Keir’s senior team to announce that she would step down as prime minister and Labor leader in the coming weeks.

Sir Keir was applauded once again by the crowd behind him after his emotional speech to the nation just outside the black doors of No10.

Among those backing Sir Keir were Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, Attorney-General Richard Hermer and International Development Minister Jenny Chapman.

Sir Keir’s son also made a rare public appearance to hear his father’s tribute to ‘my beautiful children who are my pride and joy’.

But there was one notable member of the group who gathered in Downing Street as Chancellor Rachel Reeves chose not to attend.

This is despite the fact that she lives in the two-bedroom flat above number 10, while Sir Keir’s family live in the larger flat above number 11.

Others to gather at Downing Street included Jon Pearce, 6, Darren Jones, 7, David Lammy, 8, and Sir Keir’s son, 9.

Journalists Liz Bates, 10, and John Stevens, 11, who are consultants at Westminster, were among those who attended the Prime Minister’s resignation speech

Ms Reeves, who is said to have hoped to remain Chancellor under Sir Keir’s successor, later paid tribute to the departing Prime Minister in a social media post.

‘We have achieved much to be proud of together, and there is much more to do,’ he wrote. ‘I am grateful for Keir’s leadership and his work to build a stronger, safer Britain.’

The Chancellor was among Labor ministers who met for a photo call in Parliament’s Westminster Hall on Monday afternoon with former Manchester mayor and new Makerfield MP Andy Burnham, who is expected to replace Sir Keir.

Who is who in Team Keir?

1. Miss Star – The Prime Minister’s wife is said to have been one of the loudest voices among those urging Sir Keir to fight his way through Downing Street during his final throes. In his resignation speech, Sir Keir paid tribute to his ‘wonderful’ wife, saying she had ‘been a rock by my side through good times and bad’.
2. Lord Hermer – The Attorney-General is one of Sir Keir’s closest political allies. He was hand-picked by Sir Keir as the Government’s chief legal adviser when he became Prime Minister in July 2024. Sir Keir and Lord Hermer formed a close relationship while working together as solicitors in the same chambers in the 1990s and 2000s.
3. Ben Nunn – Ms Reeves’s private secretary is among the Prime Minister’s most trusted advisers after working for Sir Keir when he was in Labor opposition. Mr Nunn was the Chancellor’s media adviser when Labor entered government in July 2024. However, he was later appointed private secretary in a bid to further strengthen ties between Downing Street and the Treasury.
4. Baroness Chapman – The Minister for International Development is a member of the Labor Party in the House of Lords. The former MP was previously chairman of Sir Keir’s successful Labor leadership campaign in 2020 and served as Sir Keir’s political secretary when he was Leader of the Opposition.
5. Abena Oppong-Asare – The Erith and Thamesmead MP was appointed as Sir Keir’s Parliamentary Private Secretary in September last year. In the unpaid role, Ms Oppong-Asare serves as the Prime Minister’s ‘eyes and ears’ in the House of Commons.
6. Jon Pearce – The High Peak MP was also appointed as Sir Keir’s Parliamentary Private Secretary in September last year.
7. Darren Jones – The Bristol North West MP is the Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary and one of Sir Keir’s closest Cabinet allies. It has been suggested that if Sir Keir is sacked, Mr Jones could run for the Labor Party leadership himself as the ‘stop Andy Burnham’ candidate. But this now seems unlikely.
8. David Lammy – The Tottenham MP has been Deputy Prime Minister since Angela Rayner’s resignation forced Sir Keir to reshuffle a frantic cabinet. He will be hoping to retain a role in the Cabinet under a new Labor leader.
9. Keir Starmer’s son – Sir Keir paid tribute to both his son and daughter in his resignation speech. He said: ‘When I leave the biggest job in the country, I will spend more time on the job that matters most. To be the best husband I can to my wonderful wife, Vic, who has been there for me through good times and bad. And to be the best father I can to my beautiful children, who are my pride and joy.’
10. Liz Bates – The former Sky News journalist is media adviser to Housing Secretary Steve Reed. She is married to Rother Valley Labor MP and deputy justice minister Jake Richards. Mr Richards’ sister Amy is Sir Keir’s political director.
11. john stevens – Another former Westminster journalist has moved to work in government. He is Downing Street’s head of political media; He moves into the role following a spell as special adviser to Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden.