The Conservative Party has said Sir Keir Starmer would clock off work at 6pm if he becomes prime minister.
Meanwhile, Government minister Maria Caulfield sought to claim in a Sky News interview that Sir Keir would want to work a “four-day week” as prime minister.
Evaluation
Sir Keir has said in interviews that he has always reserved Friday evenings to spend with his family, unless “it’s absolutely urgent or a special reason”.
The facts
Speaking to Chris Evans on Virgin Radio on Monday July 1, Sir Keir said: “We’ve had a structure in place that I try to keep to, which is to carve out really protected time for the kids.
“So on a Friday – I’ve been doing this for years – I will not do a work-related thing after six o’clock, pretty well come what may.
“Now there are a few exceptions, but that’s what we do.”
He added: “I don’t believe in the theory that you’re a better decision-maker if you don’t allow yourself the space to be a dad.”
In July 2023, Sir Keir told the Table Manners podcast how he copes with juggling politics and family demands: “It’s a question of trying to ensure that we find time, so I’m really, really clear, I will not do – unless it’s absolutely urgent or a special reason – I won’t do a Friday night event.
“So at six o’clock we’ll go home and we’ll be as a family home together on a Friday night.”
He added: “Barring exceptional weeks, we will all be there on a Friday night together.”
