What does the prime minister do and how much are they paid?
- Published
Sir Keir Starmer became the prime minister after Labour won the 4 July general election.
He is the third prime minister of King Charles' reign and the first Labour prime minister since Gordon Brown left office in 2010.
What does the prime minister do and how are they appointed?
The prime minister leads the government.
They may be the leader of the party that wins a general election, who is then called to Buckingham Palace and invited by the monarch to form a new government.
But a ruling party can also select a new prime minister without a general election.
Ultimately, the prime minister is responsible for all government policy and decisions, although some powers have been devolved to administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
They choose the other members of the government, known as ministers.
The most senior figures are called cabinet ministers. They lead government departments - such as the Treasury and Home Office.
The prime minister can, at any time, hire and fire ministers. They can also abolish government departments or create new ones.
Alongside the chancellor, the prime minister is in charge of tax-and-spending policy.
The prime minister and their ministers can also bring in new laws - as long as they are backed by Parliament.
What other powers does the prime minister have?
The prime minister has overall control of the civil service - the people and departments that carry out government's decisions.
They usually have a weekly meeting with the King to brief him on government matters. These meetings are private and there is no official record of what is said.
Rishi Sunak is the second prime minister of King Charles III's reign
The prime minister also makes decisions about the UK's defence and security.
For example, they have the power to send the UK's armed forces into action. However, recent convention says Parliament should also approve such a move, where possible.
A number of special responsibilities also rest on the prime minister's shoulders, such as deciding whether to shoot down a hijacked or unidentified aircraft in UK airspace.
They can also authorise the use of the UK's nuclear weapons.
Many honours, such as knighthoods and damehoods, are put forward by the PM.
They can also recommend peerages - where someone becomes a member of the House of Lords.
How much does the prime minister earn and where do they live?
The prime minister is entitled to two salaries:, external
£91,346 for being an MP
£80,807 for being PM - although only £75,440 is claimed
The prime minister traditionally lives and works at 10 Downing Street - which has been the office of the prime minister since 1735.
However, some recent prime ministers - including former Tory PM Boris Johnson - have chosen to reside in Number 11 as it has a larger living area.
Chequers has been the official country residence of the UK prime minister since 1921
In addition, the prime minister has an official country residence, Chequers, in Buckinghamshire.
Owned by the Chequers Trust, the 16th-Century manor house has an indoor swimming pool and sits in hundreds of acres of grounds.
It is used to entertain official guests and regularly hosts cabinet awaydays.
How are prime ministers held to account?
Despite their powers, prime ministers cannot just take any decision they like.
They need to retain the confidence of most MPs. That is because laws can only be passed if a majority of MPs vote them through.
If a government repeatedly loses votes, MPs can choose to call a "motion of no confidence".
If a prime minister loses such a vote, they face the prospect of a general election.
How much money do former PMs receive?
Former prime ministers are entitled to a severance payment of 25% of the annual salary for the post.
They can also claim the public-duty costs allowance,, external now worth up to £115,000, designed to help with office and secretarial costs "arising from their special position in public life".
In the year ending 31 March 2023, six former PMs claimed a total of £617,667., external