As a new Member of Parliament in 2005, I was surprised to receive an invitation from Cherie Blair to drop by for tea, a chat and a tour of No 10.
This was my first look at life in Downing Street for the Prime Minister’s wife and I was in awe. No wonder he wrote a book about it, called The Goldfish Bowl.
Cherie, who like me had young children at the time, was honest about the pressures of trying to maintain a normal family life while living in a ‘fort’. He told me that he had tried to arrange an all-you-can-eat meal that evening – but the order never made it through the security check!
Cherie Blair and Nadine Dorries at the Downing Street tea party in 2005
Cherie co-authored a book, The Goldfish Bowl, about life as a PM spouse.
Cherie Blair with Tony and her children outside No10 in 2001
Samantha Cameron has also explained how hard it is to get a supermarket delivery, and said she would put on a hat to disguise herself and pop out through the back to get to Tesco Express at the Westminster Tube station whenever she ran out of needs.
As Secretary of State, I spent more time behind the famous front door and saw how these restrictions, as trivial as they were, were accompanied by a loss of privacy that must be difficult for families to reconcile.
So, as the Starmers prepare to move into Downing Street (actually a larger flat at No 11, rather than No 10, which has been their preferred home since the Blair years), what can Lady Starmer and her son and daughter expect. live above the shop?
First of all, there is no lock on the front door to the prime minister’s flat. It is entered with a code that can be accessed by many people in No 10. Officials can, and do, walk in unannounced: perhaps the PM has dripped coffee on his tie and wants a fresh one taken from the wardrobe; or he forgot the paper box; or perhaps he asks an assistant to take his overnight bag, which he always has packed and ready to go.
The first lesson: flat and the Prime Minister is very much part of the machine No. 10. His family is not.
Then there are the paparazzi, who ignore all protocol and have no qualms about taking pictures of the PM’s wife and children to sell to sleazy online sites.
As for going out the back door, like SamCam used to be, the paps are staked out now. Keeping their children out of the limelight will be a tough challenge for the Starmers.
My advice is to ensure that the back railings remain covered in black cloth that is attached to block one particularly intrusive snapper. This will help the family to be less vulnerable and vulnerable.
Of course, you can’t just invite your friends over: they must be vetted and security informed before they come. And even if you’ve lived in Downing Street for years and you’re the Prime Minister’s wife, you still have to go through security to access your home. You can’t just sign in.
I have to mention the noise, too. There are often demonstrations nearby, and it can be a form of torture. After a few weeks, you may find yourself volunteering to live on Heathrow’s flight path.
There is a park at No 10 but quite a trek to get there. This also makes it a family pet problem. Don’t just open the door to go out at night.
And about pets, I know the Starmers have cats. I hope he has solved this with the only Downing Street cat, Larry, who often curls up in the middle of the front hall (at the junction of the hot water pipes under the floor) and will not move for anyone, the new Prime Minister. or not. No. 10 is his area.
On the plus side, there is the joy of Checkers, PM’s country house in the Chiltern Hills, where you and your children can enjoy a run from the beautiful grounds, safe from photographers, and really relax.
Take it from me, Victoria, you must use it well. It will stay sane.
Election night has seemed like a lifetime, but the unpleasant memory of spending five hours in the company of former Labor spin doctor Alastair Campbell lingers.
Since the election, he has continued to send nasty tweets about me – which is par for the course when I appear on TV with him.
I once complained to ITV political editor Robert Peston about this online bullying.
Peston’s advice was: ‘Oh, it’s just Alastair, ignore him.’ Unfortunately, that’s advice that many women don’t accept when they dare to complain about male bullying.
Rachel’s style is great
Chancellor Rachel Reeves looked fashionable as she arrived at Downing Street on Saturday
Rachel Reeves has really nailed the fashion stakes in her new role as Britain’s first female Chancellor.
Watching her a few days ago, I was reminded of Coco Chanel’s famous observation: ‘If a woman is poorly dressed, you will see her clothes. If a woman is impeccably dressed, you will see a woman.’
Maybe Rachel can give some style advice to one or two other members of the new Cabinet?
But I will scream if Reeves says ‘in our country’ again. A new speechwriter should be high on her to-do list.
Simon Cowell has visited Liverpool to film his new Netflix show, The Midas Touch, as he searches for a new boy band.
But despite barriers erected at Albert Dock to corral the hordes of hopefuls, only a handful showed up.
Is my hometown, the city of The Beatles and former Capital of Culture, finally devoid of talent? Or do Scousers fear Cowell has lost his Midas touch and steer clear?