Former Tory cabinet minister accuses Rishi Sunak of ‘desperate’ attack on Starmer for demanding family time after 6pm

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A former Conservative cabinet minister has described Rishi Sunak’s attack on Keir Starmer’s plans to spend time with his family in Downing Street as “desperate”.

The Labour leader, whose wife is Jewish, came under criticism from leading Tories after he said he would not work after 6pm on Fridays if possible.

The Tories claimed his comments showed he would be a “part-time prime minister” if elected on Thursday.

Mr Sunak even told reporters: “I was never done with six.”

But former Justice Minister David Gauke said The Independent: “The criticism of Starmer is silly and seems desperate. Trying to build regular weekly family time into the diary is not only sensible for a Prime Minister, it is also desirable.”

He added: “There may be many good reasons not to vote Labour, but this is not one of them.”

Sir Keir said that spending time with his son and daughter, 16 and 13, has made him more relaxed and able to make better decisions. Many have also pointed out that Sir Keir’s wife Victoria is Jewish and the family observes the traditional Shabbat dinner on Friday night.

The row erupted after the Labour leader told Virgin Radio: “We have a strategy and we will try to stick to it. It is to create really protected time for the children. So on Fridays – I have done this for years – I don’t do anything work-related after 6pm, come what may. There are a few exceptions but that’s the way it is with us.”

A Conservative Party attack on social media said: “Keir Starmer has said he would finish work at 6pm if he became Prime Minister.”

“They deserve better than a part-time prime minister. The only way to stop this is to vote Conservative on Thursday.”

Conservative deputy leader Jonathan Gullis said: “Let us hope Putin does not choose 6.01pm when he wants to go even further with his illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine.”

And Grant Shapps added: “Virtually every military intervention we have carried out has taken place at night, in part to protect our servicemen and women. The British will be asking who would represent Starmer between 6pm and 9am – Angela Rayner, David Lammy, Ed Miliband? Defending British security is not a job that can only be done during the day.”

Sir Keir said the Tories’ attacks on his wish to spend Friday evening with his family were a sign of “growing desperation bordering on hysteria”.

Speaking at the Hucknall Town FC pitch in Nottingham, the Labour leader said: “Look, this is just an increasingly desperate situation.

“I find it hard to believe that the Conservative Party has nothing positive to say 48 hours before an election.

“I’ve said throughout the campaign that they haven’t changed. They’re still the same. Nothing will change. But they’re proving it.”

“Because they’re not saying, ‘Look, if you vote Tories on Thursday, vote Conservatives, these things will happen.’ They’re just stuck in this negative, desperate loop.

“I just think that the desperation is now increasing and bordering on hysteria.”

He later told Times Radio that he would “of course” work on Fridays, saying that the claim that he would not was ridiculous.

Editor of the Jewish Chronicle Among those criticizing the attacks on X was Stephen Pollard.

“Disappointing to see Shapps go along with what is a ridiculous distortion of what Starmer said,” he tweeted. “Grant Shapps knows full well what it actually means to keep Friday night free for Shabbat with the family. And he knows it doesn’t mean calling it a day and not being disturbed (unless you’re an Orthodox Jew).

And former president of the Union of Jewish Students, Joel Rosen, said Jewish News: “At the end of each week I pause for Shabbat. It is a holy and restful time for me and many in my community.

“It is not edifying to see the Tories exploit this tradition for a cheap attack, mocking a father for spending time with his children while respecting his wife’s traditions.”

A Labour source hit back at the attacks, saying: “The only person who has finished work early in this election campaign is Rishi Sunak at the D-Day commemorations.”

Health Minister Maria Caulfield doubled down on her attack, even accusing the Labor leader of planning to introduce a four-day week and finish work at 6pm every evening if elected prime minister.

“Work-life balance is extremely important but he has indicated he wants a more flexible approach… and that’s just not possible,” she told Sky News. “I’m only a junior minister and I work seven days a week, sometimes nearly 20 hours a day, and so it’s a little worrying that he’s taken that approach.”

Sir Keir said his son and daughter were his “pride and joy” and “I don’t want to lose this time”.

He said that in politics, “some people believe that if you fill your calendar 24 hours a day and do nothing else, you will be a much better decision maker.”

“I don’t agree with that. I think we need to make room, so that’s what we’re doing.”

In an interview with Chris Evans, who used to play football with the Labour leader, Sir Keir said his children seemed unimpressed by his political career.

After winning The audience‘S When he was named Politician of the Year in 2022, his son asked him: “How did you get that?”

And when he spoke at a fundraising dinner, his daughter asked, “Why would anyone pay to listen to you?”

“You keep me very, very grounded,” Sir Keir said.