Metro visited No 10: Here’s what the PM told us

Amid a volatile week in global politics, Sir Keir Starmer made a stand closer to home, opening the doors of No 10 to dozens of women changing Britain.

Metro was exclusively invited to cover the Downing Street reception, which brought together campaigners, military and police advocates, and women working on the frontline of community change under the banner ‘Women of Impact’.

During the event, the PM spoke directly to Metro about tackling the growing deepfake crisis, sexism in the medical space and the importance of calling out misogyny – even at world leader level.

Making pledges

With Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and wife Lady Victoria present, Sir Keir committed to creating a ‘fair, inclusive and safe’ Britain where women and girls can prosper. 

He used the moment to underline the government’s pledge to halve violence against women and girls over the next decade, a mission he called ‘huge, important and personal’.

‘We are absolutely determined to make the change that is necessary to build a better country,’ he said. 

The commitment comes amid persistently high levels of violence against women and girls, with a woman killed by a man every three days in the UK and VAWG described by senior police leaders as a national emergency.

The pledge includes tougher action on perpetrators, specialist domestic abuse courts, stronger online safety enforcement, and better coordination between police and health services.

The PM told Metro that government’s approach to non-consensual sexually explicit deepfakes will now be on-par with their legislation surrounding terrorist material.

Starmer explained how as well as the 48-hour takedown rule enforced in February, the government would be introducing secondary measures to ensure such abusive images cannot be shared between platforms.

‘Misogyny is everywhere’, says PM

This year’s International Women’s Day comes days after the fifth anniversary of the murder of Sarah Everard, a case that prompted a cultural reckoning about women’s safety and trust in institutions meant to protect them.

‘Whether it’s world leaders, politics and media or in my old profession of law, misogyny is everywhere. Everybody has to call it out, myself included,’ the PM told Metro.

‘It is particularly rife in politics, with women getting more abuse than others. But it’s also structural misogyny – where power lies, who is listened to and how decisions are made. 

‘All of this, we have to change. I understand and recognise it is my responsibility to call it out, and to lead change. On that, I am working with many brilliant women around me in my team.’

It’s important for women to be in the room

Starmer noted that for the first time in British history the 800-year-old office of Chancellor is held by a woman. Rachel Reeves joins Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson as women in key roles – something he described as ‘fantastic’.

For the first time, the cabinet has as many women in key state roles as men. Of 22 members, 11 are women. This is a significant improvement from the previous government, where less than a third of positions were held by women.

Reeves told Metro: ‘Having more women in government is about unlocking the talents of the whole country to build a stronger economy, better public services, safer streets, and a society where your destiny isn’t determined by postcode or parental income. 

‘As this country’s first female Chancellor, I’m proud to play my part in making sure no girl or woman sees any ceiling on their ambition.’

Joking that he was the ‘support act’ and using a gavel to keep his opening remarks brief, the Prime Minister handed over to his wife, Victoria, at what was their first joint official reception.

Victoria Starmer focused her speech on grassroots impact, highlighting women including Sgt Merini Sevakasiga, who supports survivors of domestic abuse in the Army; Molly Bulmer, tackling knife crime among young people in Sheffield; and Valerie Lolomari, founder of Women of Grace, who works with survivors of FGM.

‘When women give to each other, families, work and communities, everybody gains,’ she told the room.

Among guests were campaigners and broadcasters Ashley James and Payzee Mahmod, disability advocate Lucy Edwards and broadcaster June Sarpong.

Afterwards, Starmer spoke exclusively to Metro in relaxed spirits, joined by his son and daughter for a brief family moment in Downing Street.

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