The UK general election has sparked controversy over Labour leader Keir Starmer's remarks about his work schedule if he becomes Prime Minister. Starmer stated he aims to reserve Friday evenings for family time, which has been misinterpreted by some Conservatives as him intending to work a four-day week. Conservative Health Minister Maria Caulfield falsely claimed Starmer would work a four-day week. Starmer clarified that he only seeks to protect Friday evenings for family, a practice he has maintained for years, partly due to his family's Jewish faith. The debate has drawn mixed reactions, with some praising Starmer's commitment to work-life balance, while others criticize the feasibility of such a schedule for a Prime Minister. Notably, former Prime Ministers David Cameron and Nick Clegg also prioritized family time, and Rishi Sunak previously praised Starmer's work-life balance. Jonathan Reynolds expressed support for Starmer's stance, emphasizing the importance of family time.
Keir Starmer says he won’t work past 6pm on Fridays so he can spend time with his family. What’s your reaction? What time do you clock off? 📞 0344 499 1000 @JuliaHB1 https://t.co/YKtIpRHCoC
From Starmer's "I try to protect Friday evening with the family" to PART-TIME FOUR-DAY WEEK. I thought @wesstreeting was being harsh when he said Caulfield "has been debasing herself on the media round", but having found the clip, that's a pretty mild response, if anything. ~AA https://t.co/dYky9Taw5L
Health minister Maria Caulfield lies about Starmer saying "he wants to work a four-day week". Then accepts "you make better decisions if you maintain a work-life balance", but says she works "seven-days a week close to 20-hour days". Oh, and she's a carer too, apparently. 🧮~AA https://t.co/tY2ZdDpLSe
The Conservatives suggested that Sir Keir’s remarks implied he would be a “part-time prime minister” if elected – now we want to know what you think https://t.co/SxGuTITYPZ
Sky Presenter Instantly Calls Out Minister For Distorting Claim Starmer Stops Work At 6pm https://t.co/rl4pv63scp
It's a noble ambition of Labour leader @Keir_Starmer to say he wont work after 6pm to have Jewish family time. But as PM he will be working round the clock 24/7. Or will he?
UK election latest: Conservatives repeat claims that Starmer will be ‘part-time prime minister’ https://t.co/lS14P6jE49
Tories falsely accuse Keir Starmer of wanting to work a 'four-day week' https://t.co/CJO97IEjFP
Tory Minister called out for fake claim about Keir Starmer 'four-day week' in Sky News clash https://t.co/CTOgsaM1qs
Watch Matt Barbet call Maria Caulfield(Tory) out for lying about Keir Starmer working a four-day week. #KayBurley https://t.co/KgbknhnNRC
Conservative Health Minister Maria Caulfield pushes the outright lie that Keir Starmer has "said he is going to be doing a four day week". After being corrected, Caulfield immediately doubles down with another false claim that Starmer has committed to working a "flexible" week. https://t.co/c2psE3Lrhf
'It's pretty unrealistic for your Prime Minister to not work past 6pm.' Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho tells @NickFerrariLBC that she believes Keir Starmer would 'get a shock' from the working hours of being PM. https://t.co/AfwbUJHKWP
No, Keir Starmer Has Not Said He Will Clock Off At 6PM Every Day When He Is Prime Minister https://t.co/2ZWsHlKutE
FFS. Tory minister Maria Caulfield now claiming on Sky that Keir Starmer says he wants to do "a 4 day week" as prime minister. Just a blatant lie.
An actual government minister - Maria Caulfield - is now on Sky News claiming Keir Starmer wants to do a four-day week in No10. It's immediately pointed out that's not true.
Tory health minister Maria Caulfield on Sky News: “Keir Starmer said he’s going to be doing a four day week” Totally made up
🔴 The Labour leader told Virgin Radio that on the last working day of the week he does “not do a work-related thing after 6pm pretty well come what may”, saying he uses that time to spend with his family https://t.co/8Ug6383JQU
‘I admire leaders who ring fence their working hours…’ @TheSimonEvans, @JoshXHowie and @MrSteveNAllen praise Keir Starmer for prioritising family life as he says he won’t work beyond 6pm on a Friday, 🔒 Become a GB News Member: https://t.co/mNsRsGC8ef https://t.co/TWC55BRBVL
Keir Starmer is the Joe Biden of British politics. He is outright lazy. Keir Starmer mocked for suggesting he will not work past 6pm on Fridays https://t.co/H65K8n25X4
For the record @Keir_Starmer has said he and his family sometimes observe Shabbat dinner on Friday nights https://t.co/n3CjYuLFK2
This Tory attack line is… a bit desperate. Surely it’s a good thing Starmer enjoys hanging out with his kids on a Friday night. Clearly if there was an emergency if he becomes PM he’d be at his desk 🙄 https://t.co/d5R2eIcutO
Keir Starmer did not say he'll clock off work at 6pm every day - Tory lie debunked By @johnestevens https://t.co/TDwyvxcOpZ
Keir Starmer did NOT say he'll clock off work at 6pm every day - Tory lie debunked https://t.co/iLWEUmokt4
The Tories said Sir Keir Starmer would be a “part-time prime minister” after the Labour leader said he would seek to make time to spend with his children on Friday nights ✍️: @DavidHughesPA https://t.co/5tdlbXgOEh
He didn’t say this. The Labour leader said he’d try to protect FRIDAY evenings after 6pm for time with his family. That’s a good ambition. https://t.co/HHHbyLk7Yf
Clocking off at 6pm must be a recent change in work ethic for Starmer. Not so long ago he was adamant his 10pm beers & curry were a legitimate break in his working day.
Keir Starmer's family is Jewish, and Tories know why Friday night might be important to him. Misquoting aside, it suggests a caring and recognition of Jewish life only when it's politically convenient
I’m sorry, this insane from Keir Starmer. The British Prime Minister needs to work weekends, you lazy bastard. National security threat? Nope, it’s after 6pm on Friday. Total joker with a snivel service mentality. DO NOT VOTE FOR THIS MAN! https://t.co/0IrrndH3dv
🚨 Despite Tory attacks today, Rishi Sunak praised Keir Starmer’s commitment to life/work balance two weeks ago “These jobs all take a toll on everyone’s family. He does a very good job of balancing work life and family life. That’s a nice thing.” [@realBenBloch] https://t.co/FvrGfrG9TU
Jonathan Reynolds on Starmer saying he wants to be with his family rather than work after 6pm on Friday "I love the fact that someone in such a prominent position in public life is saying as a father childcare is not just an optional extra you bolt on” https://t.co/4DIBA6bRSi
There's lots of things you can criticise Keir Starmer for. Wanting a modicum of work-life balance and to spend time with his children is definitely not one of them.
‘Prime Minister is a 24 hour job! It’s crazy…’ Former Tory MP Robert Halfon mocks Keir Starmer for his assertion that he will take Friday nights for himself while acting as PM. 📺 Freeview 236, Sky 512, Virgin 604 🔒 Become a GB News Member: https://t.co/mNsRsGC8ef https://t.co/cE6yyZHcUe
"Starmer suggests he won’t work past 6pm on Fridays" https://t.co/kKUj2Q3xFa
This is a disgrace from Grant Shapps, who at certain times has made much of his Jewish background. Keir Starmer has repeatedly spoken of how he values Friday night dinners and enjoying the time spent with his family, and benefits from it when working. Shapps should apologise, https://t.co/9vvDrnkI95
Ok, so it's been reported Keir Starmer, if he becomes PM, wants to clock off at 6pm to spend time with his kids. The thing is, that's not what he said. (He only wants to ringfence Friday evening and he accepts that time might get disturbed). Herewith the verbatim transcript: https://t.co/OOe5vfnchP
Keir Starmer said in an interview today he doesn’t work past 6pm on Fridays, to spend time with his family. The Conservatives have already launched multiple attacks on him for this. Here’s what Starmer has said before about Friday evenings and his family’s Jewish faith: https://t.co/02YWOnlhNe
Starmer will be a part-time PM. Who will run the country Friday 6pm to Monday 9am? David Lammy’s cervix? Starmer: “On a Friday, Ive been doing this for years, I won’t do a work related thing past six o’clock, pretty well come what may” Evans: “Regardless” Starmer: “Yeah” https://t.co/B4ljlDV0iV
🚨 NEW: Rishi Sunak says that he has never ended his workday at 6pm in response to Keir Starmer saying he would finish at that time on Fridays to be with his kids [@thetimes]
🔵 The Conservatives have released a new attack advert after Sir Keir Starmer suggested he would not work later than 6pm if he is Britain’s next Prime Minister Follow the latest updates here ⬇️ https://t.co/VJkv8Emvvo https://t.co/2mpkGaLuff
‘‘Sir Sleepy’, it seems, is back. On the eve of taking up the most important job in the country, Keir Starmer has revealed that he will refuse to work around the clock should his party win Thursday’s election.’ ✍️ Steerpike
Keir Starmer keeping Friday nights free to spend time with his children isn't particularly revolutionary. David Cameron did similar, whilst Nick Clegg took his sons to school three times-a-week. As per @paulwaugh reporting from the Coalition years. https://t.co/kDYQ3EbGfr
Keir Starmer has said he'd clock off work at 6pm if he became Prime Minister. You deserve better than a part-time Prime Minister. The only way to prevent this is to vote Conservative on Thursday. https://t.co/yF0ZBAttRh
Sorry does Keir Starmer actually understand the job he's trying to get elected into? This is an absolutely ludicrous thing to say. Prime Minister of the world's 5th largest economy is not a job you can clock out of at 6pm. https://t.co/jwZCCINF8a
Home Secretary James Cleverly has claimed Labour will “gerrymander” and “distort” the British political system in order to ensure a permanent majority ✍️: @claudiasavage24 & @warnes_william https://t.co/faVBWXcm7v
UK general election live: Starmer will try to set up ‘permanent Labour government’ if he wins, James Cleverly claims https://t.co/Z2pzDyzPxk