Keir Starmer

File:Reigate Grammar School.jpg (pictured 2009), where Starmer was a pupil]]

Keir Rodney Starmer was born on 2 September 1962, at Southwark in south east London,{{Who's Who |author=Anon |title=Starmer, Rt Hon. Sir Keir |id=U43670 |year=2024 |edition=176th |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |pages=2736 |isbn=9781399409452 |oclc=1402257203 |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U43670}}{{cite news |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location= London |title=Who is Keir Starmer? The grammar school 'superboy' who became Labour's next PM |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/06/rise-keir-starmer-superboy-labour-leader/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240706192428/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/06/rise-keir-starmer-superboy-labour-leader/ |date=6 July 2024 |access-date=7 July 2024 |archive-date=6 July 2024 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}{{cite news |last=Tsjeng |first=Zing |date=9 February 2024 |title=Keir Starmer Shares His Vision For Britain – And Lets Vogue In On The Person Behind The Policies |url= https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/keir-starmer-british-vogue-interview |access-date=7 July 2024 |website=British Vogue}} and grew up in the town of Oxted, Surrey.{{cite news |last=Moss |first=Stephen |title=Labour's Keir Starmer: 'If we don't capture the ambitions of a generation, it doesn't matter who is leading the party' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2016/apr/09/labours-keir-starmer-if-we-dont-capture-the-ambitions-of-a-generation-it-doesnt-matter-who-is-leading-the-party |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=9 April 2016 |access-date=4 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229202712/https://www.theguardian.com/law/2016/apr/09/labours-keir-starmer-if-we-dont-capture-the-ambitions-of-a-generation-it-doesnt-matter-who-is-leading-the-party |archive-date=29 February 2020 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url= https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/seasonal/election/sir-keir-starmer-my-mum-s-health-battles-have-inspired-me-1-4011167 |title=Sir Keir Starmer: 'My mum's health battles have inspired me' |work=Ham & High |date=27 March 2015 |access-date=4 April 2020 |archive-date=8 April 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200408050746/https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/seasonal/election/sir-keir-starmer-my-mum-s-health-battles-have-inspired-me-1-4011167 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |first=Patrick |last=Maguire |date=31 March 2020 |title=Keir Starmer: The sensible radical |work=New Statesman |location= London |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2020/03/keir-starmer-sensible-radical |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405171214/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2020/03/keir-starmer-sensible-radical |archive-date=5 April 2020 |url-status=live}} He was the second of the four children of Josephine ({{nee|Baker}}), a nurse, and Rodney Starmer, a toolmaker.{{cite news |last=Boyden |first=Katie |title=Inside Keir Starmer's family life from wife Victoria to toolmaker dad |url= https://metro.co.uk/2024/07/05/inside-keir-starmers-family-life-wife-victoria-toolmaker-dad-2-21166904/ |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=Metro UK |archive-date=5 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705023430/https://metro.co.uk/2024/07/05/inside-keir-starmers-family-life-wife-victoria-toolmaker-dad-2-21166904/ |url-status=live}} His mother developed Still's disease.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/mar/27/keir-starmer-profile-labours-non-aligned-leadership-frontrunner |title=Keir Starmer had no enemies. Can he keep it that way? |last=Stewart |first=Heather |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=27 March 2020 |access-date=28 March 2020 |archive-date=27 March 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200327230033/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/mar/27/keir-starmer-profile-labours-non-aligned-leadership-frontrunner |url-status=live}} His mother attended St. John's Anglican Church in nearby Hurst Green, while his father was an atheist.{{cite web |last=Goodman |first=Paul |author-link=Paul Goodman, Baron Goodman of Wycombe |title=Should Catholics worry about having an atheist prime minister? |url=https://catholicherald.co.uk/should-catholics-worry-about-having-an-atheist-prime-minister/ |website=Catholic Herald |date=21 May 2024 |access-date=16 November 2024 |language=en-GB}} He was nominally "brought up Church of England".{{cite web |last=Lipshiz |first=Cnaan |date=29 December 2020 |title=UK Labour leader Starmer opens up about his family's Jewish traditions |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/uk-labour-leader-starmer-opens-up-about-his-familys-jewish-traditions/ |access-date=15 November 2024 |website=Times Israel}} His parents were both Labour Party supporters, and reputedly named him after the party's first parliamentary leader, Keir Hardie,{{cite news |last=Moss |first=Stephen |date=21 September 2009 |title=Keir Starmer: 'I wouldn't characterise myself as a bleeding heart liberal...' |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global/2009/sep/21/keir-starmer-director-public-prosecutions |url-status=live |access-date= |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190516180531/https://www.theguardian.com/global/2009/sep/21/keir-starmer-director-public-prosecutions |archive-date=16 May 2019}} although Starmer did not confirm this when asked in 2015.{{cite news |date=27 March 2015 |title=Sir Keir Starmer: 'My mum's health battles have inspired me' |url=https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/21371980.sir-keir-starmer-my-mums-health-battles-inspired-me/ |access-date=31 May 2024 |website=Ham & High |location= London |archive-date=5 July 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240705113605/https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/21371980.sir-keir-starmer-my-mums-health-battles-inspired-me/ |url-status=live}}

Starmer passed the 11-plus examination and gained entry to Reigate Grammar School, which at the time was a voluntary-aided selective grammar school. The school converted into an independent fee-paying school in 1976, while he was a student. The terms of the conversion were such that his parents were not required to pay for his schooling until he turned 16, and when he reached that point, the school, by now a charity, awarded him a bursary that allowed him to complete his education there without any parental contribution.{{cite web |title=Schools (status) 1980 |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1980/nov/05/schools-status |website=Hansard |publisher=Uk Parliament Publications |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215223245/https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1980/nov/05/schools-status |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Harris |first=Tom |date=12 August 2021 |title=Lord Ashcroft's unauthorised biography of Keir Starmer is as dry as the Labour leader |work=The Telegraph |location= London |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/red-knight-lord-ashcroft-review-keir-starmer-bore/ |access-date=12 August 2021 |archive-date=12 August 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210812103905/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/red-knight-lord-ashcroft-review-keir-starmer-bore/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Turner |first=Camilla |date=28 January 2023 |title=Exclusive: 'Hypocrite' Keir Starmer benefited from private school charity |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/01/28/exclusive-hypocrite-keir-starmer-benefited-private-school-charity/ |access-date=29 January 2023 |archive-date=29 January 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230129200743/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/01/28/exclusive-hypocrite-keir-starmer-benefited-private-school-charity/ |url-status=live}} The subjects he chose to study in the sixth form during his last two years at school were mathematics, music and physics, in which he achieved A level grades of B, B and C.{{cite news |url= https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/keir-starmer-politics-doesnt-have-to-be-flashy-3xmsn3fn7 |last=Glancy |first=Josh |title=Keir Starmer up close: my three months with the 'normal bloke' who would be PM |newspaper=The Sunday Times |location= London |date=23 June 2024 |url-access= subscription |access-date=1 July 2024 |archive-date=1 July 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240701094231/https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/keir-starmer-politics-doesnt-have-to-be-flashy-3xmsn3fn7 |url-status=live}} Among his classmates at Reigate were the musician Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim), with whom Starmer took violin lessons; Andrew Cooper, who later became a Conservative peer, and the future conservative journalist Andrew Sullivan. According to Starmer, he and Sullivan "fought over everything... Politics, religion.. You name it."{{Keir Starmer sidebar}}

In his teenage years Starmer was active in Labour Party politics joining the Labour Party Young Socialists at the age of 16.{{cite news |url= https://www.buzzfeed.com/emilyashton/keir-starmer-profile |title=Who is Keir Starmer? |work=BuzzFeed |date=12 February 2020 |access-date=4 April 2020 |archive-date=9 April 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200409171236/https://www.buzzfeed.com/emilyashton/keir-starmer-profile |url-status=live}} He won a junior exhibition from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he played the flute, piano, recorder and violin until the age of 18.{{Cite web |title=Hello: MP Keir Starmer |work=On The Hill |location= London |publisher= Primrose Hill Community Association |date=22 November 2015 |url= https://onthehill.info/2015/11/hello-mp-keir-starmer/ |access-date=11 May 2020 |archive-date=22 May 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200522074646/https://onthehill.info/2015/11/hello-mp-keir-starmer/ |url-status=live}} In the early 1980s Starmer was caught by police illegally selling ice creams while trying to raise money during a holiday on the French Riviera. He escaped the incident without punishment, beyond the ice creams being confiscated.{{Cite news |last=Stacey |first=Kiran |date=23 June 2023 |title=Keir Starmer was caught as a student illegally selling ice-creams on French Riviera |url= https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jun/23/keir-starmer-caught-illegally-selling-ice-creams-french-riviera |access-date=15 June 2024 |work=The Guardian |location= London |archive-date=17 June 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240617072325/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jun/23/keir-starmer-caught-illegally-selling-ice-creams-french-riviera |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |date=6 September 2023 |title=Keir Starmer: Labour leader hoping for keys to Downing Street |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-66304053 |access-date=15 June 2024 |work=BBC News |archive-date=17 June 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240617072326/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-66304053 |url-status=live}} The first member of his family to go to university, Starmer read law at the University of Leeds where he became a member of the university's Labour Club before graduating with a first class LLB in 1985.{{Cite news |last=Bates |first=Stephen |title=Profile: Keir Starmer |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/aug/01/humanrights.law |access-date=10 April 2020 |work=The Guardian |location= London |date=1 August 2008 |archive-date=29 March 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190329112736/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/aug/01/humanrights.law |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-51049756 |work=BBC News |title=Labour leadership winner: Sir Keir Starmer |date=4 April 2020 |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-date=10 April 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200410022621/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-51049756 |url-status=live}} He then went up to St Edmund Hall to pursue postgraduate studies in jurisprudence taking a Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) degree from the University of Oxford in 1986.{{Cite web |url= http://www.debretts.com/people-of-today/profile/23502/Keir-STARMER |archive-url= https://archive.today/20150223124824/http://www.debretts.com/people-of-today/profile/23502/Keir-STARMER |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 February 2015 |title=People of Today |publisher=Debretts.com |access-date=4 July 2016}}

{{Main|Legal career of Keir Starmer}}

Starmer became a barrister in 1987 at the Middle Temple, then a bencher in 2009. He served as a legal officer for the campaign group Liberty until 1990. Starmer was a member of Doughty Street Chambers from 1990 onwards, primarily working on human rights matters.

Starmer has been called to the Bar in several Caribbean countries,{{cite web |url=https://www.middletemple.org.uk/bencher-persons-view?cid=32311 |title=Middle Temple |website=Middle Temple |access-date=4 January 2020 |archive-date=26 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926134509/https://www.middletemple.org.uk/bencher-persons-view?cid=32311 |url-status=live}} where he defended convicts sentenced to the death penalty. In 1999 he was a junior barrister on Lee Clegg's appeal.{{Cite web |last=Seymour |first=Richard |date=28 April 2022 |title=Tell us who you really are, Keir Starmer |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/ideas/2022/04/tell-us-who-you-really-are-keir-starmer |access-date=1 July 2024 |website=New Statesman |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615183726/https://www.newstatesman.com/ideas/2022/04/tell-us-who-you-really-are-keir-starmer |archive-date=15 June 2024}} Starmer assisted Helen Steel and David Morris in the McLibel case, at the trial and appeal in English courts, also representing them before the European Court of Human Rights.{{cite web |date=16 January 2020 |title=Corrections and clarifications |url=http://www.theguardian.com/news/2020/jan/16/corrections-and-clarifications |access-date=22 November 2022 |website=The Guardian |archive-date=13 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213000001/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2020/jan/16/corrections-and-clarifications |url-status=live}} Starmer was appointed Queen's Counsel on 9 April 2002, aged 39.{{London Gazette |issue=56538 |date=16 April 2002 |page=4622}} In the same year, he became joint head of Doughty Street Chambers. In 2005 Starmer said "I got made a Queen's Counsel, which is odd since I often used to propose the abolition of the monarchy".{{cite web |title=Starmer embraces the Monarchy |url=https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/starmer-embraces-the-monarchy |website=Camden New Journal |access-date=23 May 2024 |archive-date=17 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617065054/https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/starmer-embraces-the-monarchy |url-status=live}} Starmer authored legal opinions and marched in protest against the Iraq War following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, stating in 2015 that he believed that the war was "not lawful under international law because there was no UN resolution expressly authorising it".{{Cite news |last=Starmer |first=Keir |date=30 November 2015 |title=Airstrikes in Syria are lawful, but I'll be voting against them |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/nov/30/syria-airstrikes-legal-david-cameron-civil-war-flawed |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410171423/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/nov/30/syria-airstrikes-legal-david-cameron-civil-war-flawed |archive-date=10 April 2020 |access-date=10 April 2020 |work=The Guardian}}

Starmer served as a human rights adviser to the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the Association of Chief Police Officers, and was also a member of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's Death Penalty Advisory Panel from 2002 to 2008. The Northern Ireland Board was an important part of bringing communities together following the Good Friday Agreement, and Starmer later cited his work on policing in Northern Ireland as being a key influence on his decision to pursue a political career: "Some of the things I thought that needed to change in police services we achieved more quickly than we achieved in strategic litigation... I came better to understand how you can change by being inside and getting the trust of people".{{Cite web |title=About Keir Starmer – MP for Holborn and St Pancras and Labour Leader |url=https://keirstarmer.com/about-keir/ |access-date=15 June 2024 |website=Keir Starmer |language=en-GB |archive-date=17 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617065612/https://keirstarmer.com/about-keir/ |url-status=live}} Starmer represented Croatia at the genocide hearings before the International Court of Justice at The Hague in 2014, arguing that Serbia wanted to seize a third of Croatian territory during the 1990s war and eradicate the Croatian population.{{Cite web |last=Ivanovic |first=Josip |date=7 March 2014 |title=Serbia 'Tried to Eradicate Croatian Population' |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2014/03/07/serbia-tried-to-eradicate-croatian-population/ |website=Balkan Transitional Justice}}

File:DPP Keir Starmer in 2009 (cropped).jpg, 2009]]

In July 2008, Patricia Scotland, Attorney General for England and Wales, named Starmer as the new Head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). He succeeded Ken Macdonald, who publicly welcomed Starmer's appointment, on 1 November 2008. Starmer was deemed to be bringing a focus on human rights into the legal system. In 2011 he introduced reforms that included the "first test paperless hearing".{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2011/dec/02/lawyers-with-laptops-crown-prosecution-service |title=Lawyers with laptops log on in cost-saving measure |last=Bowcott |first=Owen |date=2 December 2011 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=2 July 2020 |archive-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703060242/https://www.theguardian.com/law/2011/dec/02/lawyers-with-laptops-crown-prosecution-service |url-status=live}} During his time as DPP Starmer dealt with a number of major cases including the Stephen Lawrence murder case, where he brought his murderers to justice.{{cite web |access-date=5 January 2012 |archive-date=21 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121234510/http://blog.cps.gov.uk/2011/05/joint-cpsmps-statement-on-stephen-lawrence-case-.html |date=18 May 2011 |publisher=Crown Prosecution Service |title=Joint CPS and MPS statement on Stephen Lawrence case |url=http://blog.cps.gov.uk/2011/05/joint-cpsmps-statement-on-stephen-lawrence-case-.html |url-status=dead}}

In February 2010, Starmer announced the CPS's decision to prosecute three Labour MPs and a Conservative peer for offences relating to false accounting in the aftermath of the parliamentary expenses scandal, who were all found guilty.{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/feb/05/mps-expenses-charges |title=Three Labour MPs and one Tory peer face expenses abuse charges |last=Sparrow |first=Andrew |date=5 February 2010 |work=The Guardian |archive-date=2 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702223125/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/feb/05/mps-expenses-charges |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Evans |first=Martin |date=20 September 2011 |title=Expenses MPs and their sentences: how long each served |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/8776160/Expenses-MPs-and-their-sentences-how-long-each-served.html |access-date=2 July 2020 |archive-date=4 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704170128/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/8776160/Expenses-MPs-and-their-sentences-how-long-each-served.html |url-status=live}} Starmer prioritised rapid prosecutions of rioters over long sentences during the 2011 England riots, which he later concluded helped to bring "the situation back under control".{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/jul/03/riot-prosecutions-sentences-keir-starmer |title=Rapid riot prosecutions more important than long sentences, says Keir Starmer |first1=Fiona |last1=Bawdon |first2=Paul |last2=Lewis |first3=Tim |last3=Newburn |date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420034812/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/jul/03/riot-prosecutions-sentences-keir-starmer |archive-date=20 April 2020 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2011/dec/22/england-riots-all-night-courts |title=England riots: all-night courts praised, but were they a publicity stunt? |date=22 December 2011 |first=Fiona |last=Bawdon |work=The Guardian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704022552/https://www.theguardian.com/law/2011/dec/22/england-riots-all-night-courts |archive-date=4 July 2020 |url-status=live}} In February 2012 Starmer announced that Chris Huhne would be prosecuted for perverting the course of justice, stating in relation to the case that {{no wrap|"[w]here}} there is sufficient evidence we do not shy away from prosecuting politicians".{{Cite web |last=Starmer |first=Keir |date=23 November 2011 |title=Letter to the Daily Mail from CPS about the Chris Huhne case |url=http://blog.cps.gov.uk/2011/11/letter-to-the-daily-mail-from-cps-about-chris-huhne.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203025215/http://blog.cps.gov.uk/2011/11/letter-to-the-daily-mail-from-cps-about-chris-huhne.html |archive-date=3 February 2012 |work=The blog of the Crown Prosecution Service}}

In 2012, the journalist Nick Cohen published allegations that Starmer was personally responsible for allowing the prosecution of Paul Chambers to proceed, in what became known as the "Twitter joke trial". The CPS denied that Starmer was behind the decision, saying that it was the responsibility of a Crown Court and was out of Starmer's hands.{{Cite news |last=Cohen |first=Nick |author-link=Nick Cohen |date=29 July 2012 |title='Twitter joke' case only went ahead at insistence of DPP |url= https://www.theguardian.com/law/2012/jul/29/paul-chambers-twitter-joke-airport |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150929125233/http://www.theguardian.com/law/2012/jul/29/paul-chambers-twitter-joke-airport |archive-date=29 September 2015 |access-date=28 September 2015 |work=The Observer |location= London }} When Jimmy Savile's sexual abuse crimes were exposed in 2012, Starmer said amid the subsequent scandal that "It was like a dam had bust and people rightfully wanted to know why he had been allowed to get away with it for so long."{{Cite news |last=Starmer |first=Keir |date=6 April 2014 |title=A voice for victims of crime |url= https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/apr/06/victims-law-criminal-justice-labour-plan |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240705112909/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/apr/06/victims-law-criminal-justice-labour-plan |archive-date=5 July 2024 |access-date=27 June 2024 |work=The Guardian |location= London }} In 2013 Starmer announced changes to how sexual abuse investigations were to be handled amid Operation Yewtree, including a panel to review complaints.{{Cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/mar/06/new-measures-child-sex-abuse |title= Prosecutor demands overhaul of sexual abuse investigations |last=Meikle |first=James |date=6 March 2013 |work=The Guardian |location= London |access-date=2 July 2020 |archive-date=18 August 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200818004606/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/mar/06/new-measures-child-sex-abuse |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2013/mar/06/specialist-met-gang-child-abuse |title=Specialist Met unit in London to tackle gang-led child sex abuse |last=Laville |first=Sandra |date=6 March 2013 |work=The Guardian |access-date=2 July 2020 |archive-date=2 July 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200702202729/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2013/mar/06/specialist-met-gang-child-abuse |url-status=live}}

Starmer stepped down as Director of Public Prosecutions in November 2013, and was succeeded by Alison Saunders.{{cite news |last=Branagh |first=Ellen |title=Stephen Lawrence barrister Alison Saunders to take over from Keir Starmer as new Director of Public Prosecutions |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/stephen-lawrence-barrister-alison-saunders-to-take-over-from-keir-starmer-as-new-director-of-public-prosecutions-8728313.html |access-date=23 July 2013 |work=The Independent |date=23 July 2013 |archive-date=25 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925164128/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/stephen-lawrence-barrister-alison-saunders-to-take-over-from-keir-starmer-as-new-director-of-public-prosecutions-8728313.html |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Saunders to replace Starmer at DPP |url=http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/uk-world-news/2013/07/23/saunders-to-replace-starmer-at-dpp-99623-33644921/ |newspaper=Liverpool Daily Post |date=23 July 2013 |access-date=23 July 2013 |archive-date=13 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213170239/http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/uk-world-news/2013/07/23/saunders-to-replace-starmer-at-dpp-99623-33644921/ |url-status=live}} Awarded several honorary degrees between 2011 and 2014, Starmer was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2014 New Year Honours for "services to law and criminal justice".

File:Official portrait of Keir Starmer MP.jpg

{{blockquote|My predecessor, the Right Hon. Frank Dobson, to whom I pay tribute, was a powerful advocate of the rights of everyone in Holborn and St Pancras throughout his highly distinguished parliamentary career. Widely respected and widely regarded, he served the people of Holborn and St Pancras for 36 years. Although I doubt I will clock up 36 years, I intend to follow in Frank Dobson's footsteps—albeit my jokes are likely to seem tame when compared with his, and I might give the beard a miss.|Keir Starmer in his maiden speech to the House of Commons, May 2015}}

Starmer was selected in December 2014 as the Labour parliamentary candidate for the constituency of Holborn and St Pancras, a Labour safe seat, following the decision of its sitting MP, Frank Dobson, to retire.{{cite news |date=13 December 2014 |title=Keir Starmer to stand for Labour in Holborn and St Pancras |url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2014/dec/13/keir-starmer-stand-labour-mp-holborn-st-pancras |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402083152/https://www.theguardian.com/law/2014/dec/13/keir-starmer-stand-labour-mp-holborn-st-pancras |archive-date=2 April 2019 |access-date=12 December 2016 |work=The Guardian}} Starmer was elected at the 2015 general election with a majority of 17,048 (52.9 per cent).{{cite news |date=8 May 2015 |title=Holborn & St. Pancras Parliamentary Constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000750 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411132121/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000750 |archive-date=11 April 2019 |access-date=20 June 2018 |publisher=BBC News}} He was re-elected at the 2017 general election with an increased majority of 30,509 (70.1 per cent), at the 2019 general election with a reduced majority of 27,763 (64.9 per cent), and at the 2024 general election with a further reduced majority of 18,884 (48.9 per cent).

During the 2016 European Union membership referendum, Starmer supported the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign for the UK to remain in the European Union (EU).{{Cite web |title=How did Keir Starmer vote on Brexit? – Birmingham Live |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/uk-news/how-keir-starmer-vote-brexit-21712777 |access-date=15 June 2024 |website=www.birminghammail.co.uk |date=29 September 2021 |archive-date=17 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617072346/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/uk-news/how-keir-starmer-vote-brexit-21712777 |url-status=live }} A member of both parliamentary groups Labour Friends of Israel and Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East,{{cite web |last1=Birawi |first1=Zaher |last2=Andrews |first2=Robert |date=14 April 2020 |title=Keir Starmer as Labour Party leader: What this means for Palestine |url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200414-keir-starmer-as-labour-party-leader-what-this-means-for-palestine/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612051417/https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200414-keir-starmer-as-labour-party-leader-what-this-means-for-palestine/ |archive-date=12 June 2020 |access-date=30 May 2020 |website=Middle East Monitor}} Starmer was urged by a number of activists to stand in the 2015 Labour Party leadership election following the resignation of Ed Miliband as Leader of the Labour Party after Labour's defeat at the 2015 general election; he ruled this out, citing his relative lack of political experience at the time.{{cite web |last=Weaver |first=Matthew |date=15 May 2015 |title=Labour activists urge Keir Starmer to stand for party leadership |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/15/labour-activists-urge-keir-starmer-to-stand-for-party-leadership |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518093814/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/15/labour-activists-urge-keir-starmer-to-stand-for-party-leadership |archive-date=18 May 2015 |access-date=17 May 2015 |work=The Guardian}}{{cite web |last=Davies |first=Caroline |date=17 May 2015 |title=Keir Starmer rules himself out of Labour leadership contest |url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2015/may/17/keir-starmer-rules-himself-out-labour-leadership-contest |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619020621/http://www.theguardian.com/law/2015/may/17/keir-starmer-rules-himself-out-labour-leadership-contest |archive-date=19 June 2015 |access-date=17 May 2015 |work=The Guardian}} During the leadership election Starmer supported Andy Burnham, who finished second to Jeremy Corbyn.{{cite news |last=Wilkinson |first=Michael |date=13 September 2015 |title=Splits emerge as Jeremy Corbyn finalises Labour's shadow cabinet |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/11861535/jeremy-corbyn-picks-labour-shadow-cabinet-live.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928134128/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/11861535/jeremy-corbyn-picks-labour-shadow-cabinet-live.html |archive-date=28 September 2015 |access-date=27 September 2015 |work=The Telegraph}}

File:Revealing Brexit documents (49188334841).jpg

Starmer was appointed to Corbyn's Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Home Office Minister in September 2015. He resigned from this role in June 2016 as part of the widespread Shadow Cabinet resignations in protest at Corbyn's leadership following the 2016 EU Referendum result.{{cite web |date=27 June 2016 |title=Keir Starmer resigns as shadow home office minister |url=https://www.itv.com/news/update/2016-06-27/keir-starmer-resigns-as-shadow-home-office-minister/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714213709/https://www.itv.com/news/update/2016-06-27/keir-starmer-resigns-as-shadow-home-office-minister/ |archive-date=14 July 2019 |access-date=14 July 2019 |work=ITV News}}{{cite web |date=28 June 2016 |title=MPs vote no confidence in Jeremy Corbyn after shadow cabinet revolt: As it happened |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2016/06/mps-vote-no-confidence-jeremy-corbyn-after-shadow-cabinet-revolt-it-happened |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317050621/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2016/06/mps-vote-no-confidence-jeremy-corbyn-after-shadow-cabinet-revolt-it-happened |archive-date=17 March 2020 |access-date=4 April 2020}} Following Corbyn's re-election at the September 2016 leadership election, Starmer accepted a new post from Corbyn as Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union.{{Cite web |date=6 October 2016 |title=Jeremy Corbyn has appointed Sir Keir Starmer as Shadow Brexit Secretary and the Tories should be worried |url=http://www2.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2016/10/06/jeremy-corbyn-has-appointed-sir-keir-starmer-as-shadow-brexit-secreretary-and-the-tories-should-be-worried/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161210171445/http://www2.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2016/10/06/jeremy-corbyn-has-appointed-sir-keir-starmer-as-shadow-brexit-secreretary-and-the-tories-should-be-worried/ |archive-date=10 December 2016 |access-date=7 December 2016 |website=politicalbetting.com}} In this role, Starmer questioned Theresa May and HM Government's destination for the UK outside of the EU, as well as calling for Brexit plans to be made public and supporting a proposed Second Referendum on Brexit.{{Cite web |date=7 February 2019 |title=Keir Starmer battles to keep Labour support for people's vote alive |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/07/keir-starmer-battles-to-keep-labour-support-for-peoples-vote-alive |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301094947/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/07/keir-starmer-battles-to-keep-labour-support-for-peoples-vote-alive |archive-date=1 March 2020 |access-date=13 March 2020 |website=The Guardian}} Following defeat at the 2019 general election, Corbyn announced that he would not lead Labour at the next general election after "a process of reflection".{{cite news |date=13 December 2019 |title=Jeremy Corbyn: 'I will not lead Labour at next election' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50766114 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214155812/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50766114 |archive-date=14 December 2019 |access-date=7 July 2023 |publisher=BBC News}} Starmer began to distance himself from Corbyn's leadership and many of the policies put forward at the general election, later revealing in 2024 that he was "certain that we would lose the 2019 election".{{Cite web |date=12 June 2024 |title=Starmer: 'I knew we'd lose 2019 election with Corbyn' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c0kkjd982l7o |access-date=15 June 2024 |website=BBC News |archive-date=17 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617072331/https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c0kkjd982l7o |url-status=live}}

{{Main|2020 Labour Party leadership election (UK)}}

File:Keir Starmer leadership campaign 2020 logo.png

On 4 January 2020, Starmer announced his candidacy for the resultant leadership election.{{Cite news |date=4 January 2020 |title=Keir Starmer enters Labour leadership contest |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-50995782 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104200337/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-50995782 |archive-date=4 January 2020 |access-date=4 January 2020 |work=BBC News}}{{Cite news |date=4 January 2020 |title=Keir Starmer to launch Labour leadership bid in Stevenage |url= https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jan/04/keir-starmer-enters-labour-leadership-race |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200109192718/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jan/04/keir-starmer-enters-labour-leadership-race |archive-date=9 January 2020 |access-date=10 January 2020 |work=The Guardian |location= London |agency=PA Media}}{{Cite news |date=4 January 2020 |title=Keir Starmer enters Labour leadership contest |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-50995782 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200104200337/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-50995782 |archive-date=4 January 2020 |access-date=4 January 2020 |work=BBC News}} He gained support from the former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.{{cite news |date=4 April 2020 |title=Labour leadership winner: Sir Keir Starmer |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-51049756 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410022621/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-51049756 |archive-date=10 April 2020 |access-date=10 July 2023 |publisher=BBC News}} During the Labour leadership campaign, Starmer ran a left-wing platform and positioned himself in opposition to austerity, stating that Corbyn was right to position Labour as "the party of anti-austerity".{{cite news |last=Jankowicz |first=Mia |date=30 December 2019 |title=Labour was 'right' to take 'radical' position on austerity, says Keir Starmer |url=https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/keir-starmer-labour-leadership-right-to-take-radical-position-1-6444007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304175356/https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/keir-starmer-labour-leadership-right-to-take-radical-position-1-6444007 |archive-date=4 March 2020 |access-date=15 February 2020 |work=The New European}}{{cite news |date=11 January 2020 |title=Starmer vows to protect Labour left-wing radicalism as Momentum backs Long Bailey |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2020-01-11/labour-leadership-candidates-keir-starmer-rebecca-long-bailey/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215203820/https://www.itv.com/news/2020-01-11/labour-leadership-candidates-keir-starmer-rebecca-long-bailey/ |archive-date=15 February 2020 |access-date=15 February 2020 |publisher=ITV News}} He indicated he would continue with the Labour policy of scrapping tuition fees as well as pledging "common ownership" of rail, mail, energy and water companies, and called for ending outsourcing in the NHS, local government and the justice system.{{cite news |last=Gye |first=Hugo |date=11 February 2020 |title=Keir Starmer promises to abolish tuition fees and nationalise industries if he becomes PM |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/keir-starmer-labour-leadership-election-abolish-tuition-fees-nationalisation-1477522/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518131801/https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/keir-starmer-labour-leadership-election-abolish-tuition-fees-nationalisation-1477522 |archive-date=18 May 2020 |access-date=15 February 2020 |work=i News}} Starmer was declared the winner of Labour's leadership contest on 4 April 2020, defeating his rivals, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy, with 56.2 per cent of the vote in the first round.{{Cite web |title=Leadership Elections 2020 Results |url=https://labour.org.uk/people/leadership-elections-hub-2020/leadership-elections-2020-results/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404104312/https://labour.org.uk/people/leadership-elections-hub-2020/leadership-elections-2020-results/ |archive-date=4 April 2020 |access-date=4 April 2020 |website=The Labour Party}}{{Cite news |date=4 April 2020 |title=New Labour leader Keir Starmer vows to lead party into 'new era'|work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52164589 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425080229/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52164589 |archive-date=25 April 2020 |access-date=24 July 2024}}{{Cite news |date=4 April 2020 |title=Labour leadership winner: Sir Keir Starmer |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-51049756 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407101148/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-51049756 |archive-date=7 April 2020 |access-date=6 October 2021 |work=BBC News}}

{{blockquote|It is the honour and the privilege of my life to be elected as Leader of the Labour Party. I want to thank Rebecca and Lisa for running such passionate and powerful campaigns and for their friendship and support along the way. I want to thank our Labour Party staff who worked really hard and my own amazing campaign team, full of positivity, with that unifying spirit. I want to pay tribute to Jeremy Corbyn, who led our party through some really difficult times, who energised our movement and who's a friend as well as a colleague. And to all of our members, supporters and affiliates I say this: whether you voted for me or not I will represent you, I will listen to you and I will bring our party together.|Keir Starmer's acceptance speech, April 2020}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{Main|Keir Starmer as Leader of the Opposition}}

File:First virtual PMQs and Ministerial statement on Coronavirus 22.04.2020 02.jpg during Prime Minister's Questions, 22 April 2020]]

Having become Leader of the Opposition during the COVID-19 pandemic, Starmer said in his acceptance speech that he would refrain from "scoring party political points" and would work with the Government "in the national interest".{{Cite web |date=4 April 2020 |title=READ IN FULL: Sir Keir Starmer's victory speech after being named new Labour leader |url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/read-in-full-sir-keir-starmers-victory-speech-after-being-named-new-labour-leader |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617072333/https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/read-in-full-sir-keir-starmers-victory-speech-after-being-named-new-labour-leader |archive-date=17 June 2024 |access-date=3 July 2024 |website=Politics Home |language=en}} He later became more critical of HM Government's response to the pandemic following the partygate scandal.{{Cite web |title=Keir Starmer reveals how he 'set trap' for Boris Johnson over partygate scandal |url=https://news.sky.com/story/keir-starmer-reveals-how-he-set-trap-for-boris-johnson-over-partygate-scandal-13157083 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240624070847/https://news.sky.com/story/keir-starmer-reveals-how-he-set-trap-for-boris-johnson-over-partygate-scandal-13157083 |archive-date=24 June 2024 |access-date=27 June 2024 |website=Sky News |language=en}} In May 2022, Starmer said he would resign were he to receive a fixed penalty notice for breaching COVID-19 regulations while campaigning during the run-up to the Hartlepool by-election and local elections the previous year.{{cite news |last=Sparrow |first=Andrew |date=9 May 2022 |title=Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner to resign if fined over Beergate claims |url=https://theguardian.com/politics/live/2022/may/09/boris-johnson-labour-keir-starmer-beer-election-results-uk-politics-live |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613080118/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2022/may/09/boris-johnson-labour-keir-starmer-beer-election-results-uk-politics-live |archive-date=13 June 2024 |access-date=9 May 2022 |newspaper=The Guardian}} The controversy surrounding the event was dubbed "beergate".{{Cite news |last=Culbertson |first=Alix |date=6 May 2022 |title=Beergate: Sir Keir Starmer insists there was 'no party' after Durham Police say they will investigate claims he broke lockdown rules |url=https://news.sky.com/story/beergate-durham-police-to-investigate-sir-keir-starmer-over-allegations-he-broke-lockdown-rules-12606679 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506214312/https://news.sky.com/story/beergate-durham-police-to-investigate-sir-keir-starmer-over-allegations-he-broke-lockdown-rules-12606679 |archive-date=6 May 2022 |access-date=6 May 2022 |work=Sky News}} In July 2022 Durham Police cleared Starmer and said that he had "no case to answer".{{Cite news |last=Whannel |first=Kate |date=8 July 2022 |title=Sir Keir Starmer cleared by police over Durham lockdown beers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-62095955 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708122743/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-62095955 |archive-date=8 July 2022 |access-date=8 July 2022 |work=BBC News}} In August 2022 the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Kathryn Stone, found that Starmer had breached the MPs' code of conduct eight times by failing to register interests on eight occasions.{{Cite news |date=4 August 2022 |title=Sir Keir Starmer found to have breached MPs' code of conduct |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/keir-starmer-mp-code-of-conduct-breach-b2138481.html |access-date=6 July 2024 |website=The Independent |location= London}}{{Cite news |date=4 August 2022 |title=Keir Starmer found to have breached MPs' code of conduct over register of interests |url= https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/aug/04/keir-starmer-found-to-have-breached-mps-code-of-conduct-over-register-of-interests |access-date=6 July 2024 |work=The Guardian |location= London |agency=PA Media}}

Amidst the historic number of ministers resigning from Boris Johnson's government in July 2022, Starmer proposed a vote of no confidence in the Government, stating that Johnson should not be allowed to remain in office.{{cite news |author=Sommerlad |first=Joe |date=12 July 2020 |title=No confidence vote: What is Sir Keir Starmer's motion and could Boris Johnson be ousted early? |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/no-confidence-vote-tory-johnson-what-b2121119.html |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220715203056/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/no-confidence-vote-tory-johnson-what-b2121119.html |archive-date=15 July 2022 |access-date=18 July 2022 |newspaper=The Independent}}{{cite news |author=Diver |first=Tony |date=7 July 2022 |title=Keir Starmer's ultimatum: Go now, Boris, or I'll bring no confidence vote in Parliament |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/07/07/keir-starmers-ultimatum-go-now-boris-bring-no-confidence-vote/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705113820/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/07/07/keir-starmers-ultimatum-go-now-boris-bring-no-confidence-vote/ |archive-date=5 July 2024 |access-date=18 July 2022 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location= London}} Starmer also criticised Johnson, as well as his successors Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, for issues such as the Chris Pincher scandal and the subsequent government crisis,{{cite news |last=Finnis |first=Alex |date=7 July 2022 |title=Why Boris Johnson is resigning and a timeline of his final days as Tory leader |url= https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnson-resigned-why-prime-minister-quit-chris-pincher-scandal-mp-resignations-1729346 |access-date=24 July 2024 |website=inews.co.uk}} the economic crisis resulting from the 2022 mini-budget and subsequent government crisis,{{cite news |last=Morris |first=Sophie |date=22 September 2022 |title=Sir Keir warns mini-budget 'does nothing' for working people – but doesn't say if he would reverse tax cuts |url= https://news.sky.com/story/sir-keir-warns-mini-budget-does-nothing-for-working-people-but-doesnt-say-if-he-would-reverse-tax-cuts-12704534 |access-date=24 July 2024 |website=Sky News}}{{cite news |last=Cooney |first=Christy |date=15 October 2022 |title=Keir Starmer criticises 'grotesque chaos' under Liz Truss government |url= https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/oct/15/keir-starmer-criticises-grotesque-chaos-under-liz-truss-government |access-date=24 July 2024 |work=The Guardian |location= London }}{{cite news |last=Stewart |first=Heather |date=20 October 2022 |title=Keir Starmer renews call for immediate general election after Truss resigns |url= https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/oct/20/keir-starmer-renews-call-for-immediate-general-election |access-date=24 July 2024 |work=The Guardian |location= London }} the cost of living crisis,{{cite news |last=Rogers |first=Alexandra |date=5 October 2023 |title=Sir Keir Starmer criticises PM for failing to mention cost of living crisis as families struggle to get baby formula |url= https://news.sky.com/story/sir-keir-starmer-criticises-pm-for-failing-to-mention-cost-of-living-crisis-as-families-struggle-to-get-baby-formula-12977564 |access-date=24 July 2024 |website=Sky News}} and the industrial disputes and strikes including National Health Service strikes.{{cite news |last=McTernan |first=John |date=2 August 2022 |title=Keir Starmer is right – for Labour to win power, it can't wade in on every strike going |url= https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/02/keir-starmer-labour-strike-industrial-disputes |access-date=24 July 2024 |work=The Guardian }}{{cite web |last=Scott |first=Jennifer |date=6 February 2023 |title=NHS strikes 'badge of shame for government', says Sir Keir Starmer |url=https://news.sky.com/story/nhs-strikes-badge-of-shame-for-government-says-sir-keir-starmer-12804533 |access-date=24 July 2024 |website=Sky News}}{{cite news |last1=Maddox |first1=David |last2=Greig |first2=Geordie |last3=Thomas |first3=Rebecca |date=24 June 2024 |title= Starmer's strongest warning yet to striking doctors: I won't give 35 per cent rise |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/keir-starmer-junior-doctors-strike-nhs-pay-rise-b2569040.html |access-date=24 July 2024 |website=The Independent}}

As Labour Leader Starmer focused on repositioning the Party away from the Left and the controversies that affected Corbyn's leadership, with promises of economic stability, tackling small-boat crossings, cutting NHS waiting times and "rebuilding the NHS", worker rights enrichment, energy independence and infrastructure development, tackling crime, improving education and training, reforming public services, renationalising the railway network, and recruiting 6,500 teachers.{{cite news |last=Cecil |first=Nicholas |date=26 September 2022 |title=Sir Keir Starmer to declare Labour is 'party of the centre-ground' once again |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/keir-starmer-keynote-speech-labour-party-conference-liz-truss-tory-kwasi-kwarteng-b1028265.html |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221010174607/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/keir-starmer-keynote-speech-labour-party-conference-liz-truss-tory-kwasi-kwarteng-b1028265.html |archive-date=10 October 2022 |access-date=5 May 2023 |work=Evening Standard |location= London}} Starmer also pledged to end antisemitism within the Labour Party.{{cite news |date=4 April 2020 |title=Labour leadership winner: Sir Keir Starmer |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-51049756 |url-status=live |archive-url=

https://web.archive.org/web/20200410022621/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-51049756 |archive-date=10 April 2020 |access-date=16 July 2023 |work=BBC News}}{{cite news |date=18 November 2020 |title=A guide to Labour Party anti-Semitism claims |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-45030552 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230506111007/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-45030552 |archive-date=6 May 2023 |access-date=5 May 2023 |work=BBC News}} In October 2020, following the release of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)'s report into antisemitism in the Labour Party, Starmer accepted its findings in full and apologised to Jews on the Party's behalf.{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Peter |date=29 October 2020 |title=Keir Starmer: EHRC antisemitism report is day of shame for Labour |url= https://www.theguardian.com/news/2020/oct/29/keir-starmer-ehrc-report-day-of-shame-labour-antisemitism |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201029130958/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2020/oct/29/keir-starmer-ehrc-report-day-of-shame-labour-antisemitism |archive-date=29 October 2020 |access-date=29 October 2020 |work=The Guardian}}{{Cite news |last=Syal |first=Rajeev |date=29 October 2020 |title=Antisemitism in Labour: what did the report find and what happens next |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/oct/29/antisemitsim-in-labour-what-did-the-report-find-and-what-happens-next |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030074502/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/oct/29/antisemitsim-in-labour-what-did-the-report-find-and-what-happens-next |archive-date=30 October 2020 |access-date=29 October 2020 |work=The Guardian}} In February 2023 Starmer's antisemitism reforms resulted in the Labour Party no longer being monitored by the EHRC.{{Cite web |title=Labour no longer being monitored by equalities watchdog after antisemitism reforms |url=https://news.sky.com/story/labour-no-longer-being-monitored-by-equalities-watchdog-after-antisemitism-reforms-12810866 |access-date=15 February 2023 |website=Sky News |language=en}} During Starmer's tenure as leader, Labour saw a drop in party membership from a peak of 532,000 after the 2019 election to 370,450 in the runup to the 2024 election.{{cite web |last1=Morton |first1=Becky |title=Party memberships fell in 2023 despite looming election |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c33n6311577o |website=BBC News |date=22 August 2024 |access-date=28 December 2024}} More than 20,000 members left the party within two months in 2024, with blame placed on the party's stance on the Gazan genocide and green investment.{{cite web |last1=Mathers |first1=Mark |title=More than 20,000 Labour members quit over Gaza and green policies |url=https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/politics/labour-membership-gaza-green-policies-b2521064.html |website=The Independent |date=31 March 2024 |access-date=30 December 2024}}

{{Main|Shadow Cabinet of Keir Starmer}}

Starmer's Shadow Cabinet initially comprised both the right and left of the Labour Party. Starmer reshuffled his Shadow Cabinet three times – firstly in May 2021, secondly in November 2021, and finally in September 2023.{{Cite news |last=Cunliffe |first=Rachel |date=4 September 2023 |title=Keir Starmer's reshuffle was politically ruthless |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/labour/2023/09/keir-starmers-reshuffle-was-politically-ruthless |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230904175245/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/labour/2023/09/keir-starmers-reshuffle-was-politically-ruthless |archive-date=4 September 2023 |access-date=4 September 2023 |work=New Statesman}}{{Cite web |last=Chaplain |first=Chloe |date=4 September 2023 |title=Keir Starmer purges soft left and surrounds himself with Blairites for General Election push |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/labour-reshuffle-keir-starmer-shadow-cabinet-loyalists-general-election-2592972 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230904175840/https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/labour-reshuffle-keir-starmer-shadow-cabinet-loyalists-general-election-2592972 |archive-date=4 September 2023 |access-date=4 September 2023 |website=inews.co.uk}} Starmer's reshuffles reduced the representation of the left and soft left on the Opposition frontbench, while increasing the representation of the Party's right.{{Cite web |last=Belger |first=Tom |date=5 September 2023 |title='Labour's shadow cabinet reshuffle: Not everything is as clear as it looks' |url=https://labourlist.org/2023/09/labour-shadow-cabinet-reshuffle-who-what-means/ |access-date=28 September 2024 |website=LabourList |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |last=Crerar |first=Pippa |date=4 September 2023 |title=Starmer promotes Blairites as Labour thoughts turn to governing |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/sep/04/starmers-promotion-of-blairites-shows-labour-focus-has-turned-to-governing |access-date=28 September 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |date=29 November 2021 |title=Yvette Cooper Makes Labour Frontbench Comeback After Keir Starmer Reshuffles Top Team |url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/shadow-home-secretary-nick-thomas-symonds-ousted-in-reshuffle |access-date=28 September 2024 |website=Politics Home |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Gibbons |first=Amy |date=4 September 2023 |title=Labour reshuffle: Who's in and who's out |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/09/04/labour-reshuffle-keir-starmer-shadow-cabinet-angela-rayner/ |access-date=28 September 2024 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}} Notable changes included Rachel Reeves replacing Anneliese Dodds as Shadow Chancellor, the demotion of Lisa Nandy from Shadow Levelling-Up Secretary to Shadow Minister for International Development, and the replacement of Chief Whip Nick Brown with Alan Campbell. Resignations from Starmer's Shadow Cabinet included Andy McDonald and Rosena Allin-Khan.

{{see also|2021 United Kingdom local elections|2022 United Kingdom local elections|2023 United Kingdom local elections|2024 United Kingdom local elections}}

Starmer considered resigning after Labour's mixed results in the 2021 local elections, the first local elections of his leadership, but later felt "vindicated" by his decision to stay on, saying "I did [consider quitting] because I didn't feel that I should be bigger than the party and that if I couldn't bring about the change, perhaps there should be a change. But actually, in the end, I reflected on it, talked to very many people and doubled down and determined, no, it is the change in the Labour Party we need".{{Cite web |title=Sir Keir Starmer considered quitting after 2021 local elections and Hartlepool loss |url=https://news.sky.com/story/starmer-considered-quitting-after-2021-local-elections-and-hartlepool-loss-13126988 |access-date=15 June 2024 |website=Sky News |language=en |archive-date=13 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613211340/https://news.sky.com/story/starmer-considered-quitting-after-2021-local-elections-and-hartlepool-loss-13126988 |url-status=live }}

During Starmer's tenure as Opposition Leader, his party suffered the loss of a previously safe Labour seat at the 2021 Hartlepool by-election, followed by holds at the 2021 Batley and Spen by-election, 2022 Birmingham Erdington by-election and 2022 City of Chester by-election, as well as a gain from the Conservatives at the 2022 Wakefield by-election. During the 2023 local elections, Labour gained more than 500 councillors and 22 councils, becoming the largest party in local government for the first time since 2002.{{cite news |author=Joshua Nevett |date=5 May 2023 |title=Local elections 2023: Labour eyes power after crushing Tory losses |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-65503082 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505195139/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-65503082 |archive-date=5 May 2023 |access-date=5 May 2023 |publisher=BBC News}} Labour made further gains at the 2024 local elections, gaining from the Conservatives at the Blackpool South by-election and narrowly winning the West Midlands mayoral election.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68949272 |title=Seven takeaways from the local elections |first=Paul |last=Seddon |website=BBC News |date=4 May 2024 |access-date=9 June 2024 |archive-date=6 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606040830/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68949272 |url-status=live }}

{{Main|2024 United Kingdom general election}}

On 22 May 2024, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that a general election would be held on 4 July 2024. Labour entered the general election with a large lead over the Conservatives in opinion polls, and the potential scale of the party's victory remained a topic of discussion throughout the campaign.{{cite news |last=Walker |first=Peter |date=20 February 2024 |title=Another Canada 93? Tory Sunak critics fear extinction-level election result |url=https://theguardian.com/politics/2024/feb/20/canada-93-tory-sunak-critics-extinction-level-election-result |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615124840/https://amp.theguardian.com/politics/2024/feb/20/canada-93-tory-sunak-critics-extinction-level-election-result |archive-date=15 June 2024 |access-date=14 June 2024 |work=The Guardian}}{{cite news |last=Hunt |first=Wayne |date=1 June 2024 |title=Can the Tories avoid the fate of Canada's Conservatives? |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/can-the-tories-avoid-the-fate-of-canadas-conservatives/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614045916/https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/can-the-tories-avoid-the-fate-of-canadas-conservatives/ |archive-date=14 June 2024 |access-date=14 June 2024 |work=The Spectator}}

In June 2024, Starmer released the Labour Party's 2024 manifesto, Change, which focused on economic growth, planning system reforms, infrastructure, what Starmer describes as "clean energy", healthcare, education, childcare, and strengthening workers' rights.{{Cite web |title=Change |url=https://labour.org.uk/change/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617065051/https://labour.org.uk/change/ |archive-date=17 June 2024 |access-date=15 June 2024 |website=The Labour Party |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=23 May 2024 |title=Labour manifesto 2024: Find out how Labour will get Britain's future back |url=https://labour.org.uk/updates/stories/labour-manifesto-2024-sign-up/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613141625/https://labour.org.uk/updates/stories/labour-manifesto-2024-sign-up/ |archive-date=13 June 2024 |access-date=12 June 2024 |website=The Labour Party |language=en-GB}} It pledged a new publicly owned energy company (Great British Energy), a "Green Prosperity Plan", reducing patient waiting times in the NHS, and renationalisation of the railway network (Great British Railways).{{Cite web |last=Reid |first=Jenni |date=13 June 2024 |title=Britain's Labour Party pledges 'wealth creation' as it targets landslide election victory |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/13/uk-general-election-2024-labour-publishes-manifesto-.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613173116/https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/13/uk-general-election-2024-labour-publishes-manifesto-.html |archive-date=13 June 2024 |access-date=13 June 2024 |website=CNBC |language=en}} Promising wealth creation together with "pro-business and pro-worker" policies,{{Cite web |date=13 June 2024 |title=Starmer launches Labour's pro-business, pro-worker manifesto with £7.35bn of new taxes |url=https://nz.news.yahoo.com/starmer-hopes-labour-pro-business-103304717.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613173115/https://nz.news.yahoo.com/starmer-hopes-labour-pro-business-103304717.html |archive-date=13 June 2024 |access-date=13 June 2024 |website=Yahoo News}} the manifesto also pledged giving 16-year-olds the vote, reforming the House of Lords, and to tax private schools, with money generated going into improving state education.{{Cite news |last=Mason |first=Rowena |date=13 June 2024 |title=Change and growth: five key takeaways from the Labour manifesto launch |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jun/13/change-and-growth-five-key-takeaways-from-the-labour-manifesto-launch |access-date=13 June 2024 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite news |last1=Gibbons |first1=Amy |last2=Sigsworth |first2=Tim |date=16 May 2024 |title=Labour Party manifesto 2024: Keir Starmer's election promises |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/0/labour-party-pledges-manifesto-general-election-voters/ |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240706003421/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/05/labour-party-pledges-manifesto-general-election-voters/ |archive-date=6 July 2024 |access-date=13 June 2024 |work=The Telegraph |location= London }} On taxes, the day after the manifesto was released, Starmer pledged that not only would income tax, National Insurance, and VAT not be increased, but that, per their manifesto, their plans were fully costed and funded and would not require tax increases.{{Cite news |last=Peck |first=Tom |date=14 June 2024 |title=Keir Starmer cut down to size by Nick Robinson's Warne-like cunning |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/keir-starmer-cut-down-to-size-by-nick-robinsons-warne-like-cunning-60zbnt5nn |work=The Times}}

Starmer led Labour to a landslide victory at the general election, ending fourteen years of Conservative government with Labour becoming the largest party in the House of Commons.{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Faye |date=5 July 2024 |title='Change begins now', Starmer says – as Labour win historic landslide |url=https://news.sky.com/story/the-labour-party-has-won-this-general-election-sunak-concedes-defeat-13162921 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705091108/https://news.sky.com/story/the-labour-party-has-won-this-general-election-sunak-concedes-defeat-13162921 |archive-date=5 July 2024 |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=Sky News}} Labour achieved a 174-seat simple majority and a total of 411 seats, the party's third-best result in terms of seat-share following the 1997 and 2001 general elections. The party became the largest in England for the first time since 2005, in Scotland for the first time since 2010 and retained its status as the largest party in Wales.{{Cite web |date=4 July 2024 |title=UK general election results live: Labour set for landslide as results come in across country |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn09xn9je7lt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240704043031/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn09xn9je7lt |archive-date=4 July 2024 |access-date=4 July 2024 |website=BBC News}} Despite this, Labour won 34 per cent of the vote – the lowest of any party forming a majority government in the post-war era,{{cite web |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-10009/CBP-10009.pdf |title=General election 2024: Results and analysis |page=6 |first1=Richard |first2=Carl |last1=Cracknell |last2=Baker |publisher=House of Commons Library |date=24 September 2024 |access-date=24 September 2024}} leading to concerns about the proportionality of the election.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jul/05/the-guardian-view-on-labours-landslide-becoming-the-change-the-country-needs |title=The Guardian view on Labour's landslide: becoming the change the country needs |website=The Guardian |date=5 July 2024 |access-date=24 September 2024}}{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/john-curtice-general-election-labour-victory-results-7cpgvbrcs |title=John Curtice: Labour's strength in Commons is heavily exaggerated |first=John |last=Curtice |website=The Times |date=5 July 2024 |access-date=24 September 2024}}

In his victory speech Starmer thanked Labour Party workers for their work – including nearly five years of revamping and rebranding Labour in the face of Conservative dominance – and urged them to savour the moment, but warned them of challenges ahead and pledged his government would seek "national renewal":{{Cite web |title="UK Gets Its Future Back": Labour's Keir Starmer In Victory Speech |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/uk-gets-its-future-back-labours-keir-starmer-in-victory-speech-6037737 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705112913/https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/uk-gets-its-future-back-labours-keir-starmer-in-victory-speech-6037737 |archive-date=5 July 2024 |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=NDTV.com}}{{Cite web |date=5 July 2024 |title=Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's victory speech in full |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/keir-starmer-labour-britain-smith-st-pancras-b1168859.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706075100/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/keir-starmer-labour-britain-smith-st-pancras-b1168859.html |archive-date=6 July 2024 |access-date=7 July 2024 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}}

{{Blockquote|text=We did it! You campaigned for it, you fought for it, you voted for it and now it has arrived. Change begins now. And it feels good, I have to be honest. Four-and-a-half years of work changing the party. This is what it is for – a changed Labour Party ready to serve our country, ready to restore Britain to the service of working people. And across our country people will be waking up to the news, relieved that a weight has been lifted, a burden finally removed from the shoulders of this great nation. And now we can look forward. Walk into the morning, the sunlight of hope, pale at first but getting stronger through the day, shining once again, on a country with the opportunity after 14 years to get its future back. We said we would end the chaos and we will. We said we would turn the page and we have. Today we start the next chapter, begin the work of change, the mission of national renewal and start to rebuild our country.|author=Keir Starmer on 5 July 2024, following his general election victory}}

{{further|Premiership of Keir Starmer}}

File:Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer arrives at Number 10 Downing St (53836916571).jpg, 5 July 2024]]

As the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons, Starmer was appointed prime minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service by King Charles III on 5 July 2024, becoming the first Labour prime minister since Gordon Brown in 2010 and the first one to win a general election since Tony Blair in 2005.{{Cite news |last=Mason |first=Rowena |date=5 July 2024|title=Keir Starmer promises 'stability and moderation' in first speech as PM |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/05/keir-starmer-first-speech-prime-minister-pm-labour-downing-street |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=The Guardian|archive-date=7 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240707072441/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/05/keir-starmer-first-speech-prime-minister-pm-labour-downing-street |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://labourlist.org/2024/07/sir-keir-starmer-prime-minister-first-speech-victory/ |title='We did it': Keir Starmer's victory speech as Labour crosses key 326 seat line |first=Tom |last=Belger |website=Labour List |date=5 July 2024 |access-date=13 July 2024}}{{Cite web |title=Minister for the Civil Service - GOV.UK |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/minister-for-the-civil-service |access-date=28 January 2025 |website=www.gov.uk |language=en}} He and his wife, Victoria, were driven from Buckingham Palace to Downing Street. Starmer stopped the car on the way back from the palace to go on a walkabout in Downing Street to meet cheering crowds.{{cite web |last=Seddon |first=Paul |date=5 July 2024 |title=Keir Starmer vows to serve whole UK as new Labour PM |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crge8g9qxj3o |access-date=24 July 2024 |website=BBC News}}

In his first speech as prime minister, Starmer paid tribute to his predecessor, Rishi Sunak, saying "his achievement as the first British Asian prime minister of our country should not be underestimated by anyone" and he also recognised "the dedication and hard work he brought to his leadership", but added that the people of the UK had voted for change:{{Cite web |date=5 July 2024|title=Keir Starmer's first speech as Prime Minister: 5 July 2024 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/keir-starmers-first-speech-as-prime-minister-5-july-2024 |access-date=5 July 2024|website=UK Government|archive-date=7 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240707042743/https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/keir-starmers-first-speech-as-prime-minister-5-july-2024 |url-status=live }}

{{Blockquote|text=You have given us a clear mandate, and we will use it to deliver change. To restore service and respect to politics, end the era of noisy performance, tread more lightly on your lives, and unite our country. Four nations, standing together again, facing down, as we have so often in our past, the challenges of an insecure world. Committed to a calm and patient rebuilding. So with respect and humility, I invite you all to join this government of service in the mission of national renewal. Our work is urgent and we begin it today.}}

Other world leaders, including Joe Biden and Justin Trudeau, as well as Blair and Brown, congratulated Starmer upon his appointment as prime minister.{{cite web |title=General election: World leaders react to Keir Starmer and Labour's 'remarkable' win |url=https://news.sky.com/story/general-election-world-leaders-react-to-keir-starmer-and-labours-remarkable-win-13173673 |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=Sky News |archive-date=5 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705185657/https://news.sky.com/story/general-election-world-leaders-react-to-keir-starmer-and-labours-remarkable-win-13173673 |url-status=live}} One of his first acts was to declare the Rwanda asylum plan "dead": the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, would establish a Border Security Command to tackle smuggling gangs which facilitate illegal migrant crossings over the English Channel.{{Cite news |last1=Riley-Smith |first1=Ben |last2=Hymas |first2=Charles |date=5 July 2024 |title=Starmer kills off Rwanda plan on first day as PM |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/05/starmer-kills-off-rwanda-plan-on-first-day-as-pm/ |access-date=6 July 2024 |work=The Telegraph |location= London |archive-date=6 July 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240706181847/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/05/starmer-kills-off-rwanda-plan-on-first-day-as-pm/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=7 July 2024 |title=Cooper sets out plan to tackle small boat crossings |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp08vyg436jo |access-date=7 July 2024 |work=BBC News |archive-date=9 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709111126/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp08vyg436jo |url-status=live }} Starmer went on a tour of the four nations of the UK, meeting with leaders including John Swinney, Michelle O'Neill, and Vaughan Gething.{{cite web |title=Keir Starmer and John Swinney vow to work together despite 'differences' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd10ene4n5rt |access-date=7 July 2024 |website=BBC News |archive-date=6 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706231307/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd10ene4n5rt |url-status=live }} He also met the twelve regional mayors and announced the establishment of the Council of the Nations and Regions.{{Cite web |date=8 July 2024 |title=Starmer and Rayner meet local leaders for devolution talks |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cml247l74zko |access-date=9 July 2024 |website=BBC News|first=Becky|last=Morton |archive-date=9 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709002429/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cml247l74zko |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Deputy Prime Minister kickstarts new devolution revolution to boost local power |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/deputy-prime-minister-kickstarts-new-devolution-revolution-to-boost-local-power |access-date=26 July 2024 |website=GOV.UK}} On 24 July 2024 Starmer attended his first Prime Minister's Questions in parliament.{{cite web |last=Lawless |first=Jill |date=24 July 2024 |title=Britain's new Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces his first House of Commons grilling from lawmakers |url=https://apnews.com/article/uk-keir-starmer-prime-ministers-questions-97bff3e0f594c66f7de60f80bf0fc601 |access-date=24 July 2024 |website=AP News}}

{{Main|Starmer ministry}}

File:Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosts first Cabinet.jpg on 6 July 2024]]

Starmer set about appointing a new Cabinet, which first met on 6 July, and he completed his ministerial appointments on 7 July.{{Cite web |date=5 July 2024 |title=Keir Starmer: Labour leader to become UK prime minister |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crge8g9qxj3o |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=BBC News |archive-date=5 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705211937/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crge8g9qxj3o |url-status=live }} Parliament was then recalled to meet on 9 July.{{cite web |year=2024 |title=House of Commons Library, 2024. 'What Happens in the Commons after the general election?' |url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/what-happens-in-the-commons-after-the-general-election/ |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=House of Commons Library |archive-date=5 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705112915/https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/what-happens-in-the-commons-after-the-general-election/ |url-status=live }}

Among Starmer's ministerial appointments were the scientist Patrick Vallance as Minister of State for Science, the rehabilitation campaigner James Timpson as Minister of State for Prisons, Parole and Probation, and the international law expert Richard Hermer as Attorney General for England and Wales, who were created life peers to sit in the House of Lords.{{cite news |last=Savage |first=Michael |date=6 July 2024 |title=Starmer installs non-political ministers in 'government of all the talents' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/06/starmer-non-political-ministers-government-of-all-talents-patrick-vallance-james-timpson |access-date=8 July 2024 |work=The Guardian}} The new government also contains a few ministers from the New Labour Blair/Brown governments, including Hilary Benn, Yvette Cooper, David Lammy, and Ed Miliband in Cabinet, and Jacqui Smith and Douglas Alexander as junior ministers.{{Cite news |last=Francis |first=Sam |date=7 July 2024 |title=Starmer appoints two figures from Blair and Brown era as ministers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c51y4vz6900o |access-date=8 July 2024 |work=BBC News}}{{cite news |last=Laver |first=Adam |date=6 July 2024 |title=Yorkshire MPs take centre stage in Keir's cabinet |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crg720gmedxo |access-date=8 July 2024 |work=BBC News}}{{cite news |date=7 July 2024 |title=Who is in Keir Starmer's new Labour Cabinet? |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/07/keir-starmer-labour-pick-cabinet-angela-rayner-ed-miliband/ |access-date=8 July 2024 |work=The Telegraph}}

Domestically, Starmer said that his primary concerns would be economic growth, reforming the planning system, infrastructure, energy, healthcare, education, childcare, and strengthening workers' rights, as set out in Labour's 2024 election manifesto.

The 2024 State Opening of Parliament outlined 39 bills that Labour proposed to introduce in the months ahead, including ones to renationalise the railways, to bring local bus services under local public control, to strengthen the rights of workers, to tackle illegal immigration, to reform the House of Lords, and to undertake a programme to speed up the delivery of "high quality infrastructure" and housing. In addition, a number of bills proposed by the previous Conservative government were also included, notably the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which featured in the 2023 King's Speech, but had been abandoned when the election was called.{{Cite web |date=17 July 2024 |title=Starmer pledges growth with building and rail reforms |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c903d09jwk7o |accessdate=17 July 2024 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC}}{{Cite web |last=Seddon |first=Paul |date=15 July 2024 |title=Key points in King's Speech at a glance |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c51y7pqy1v3o |accessdate=17 July 2024 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC}} Skills England, a body whose objective will be to reduce the need for overseas employees by improving skills training for people in England, was launched on 22 July.{{Cite news |last=Seddon |first=Paul |date=22 July 2024 |title=Better skills training will cut migration, vows Keir Starmer |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cxe2g3drxj5o |work=BBC News}}{{Cite web |title=Skills England to transform opportunities and drive growth |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/skills-england-to-transform-opportunities-and-drive-growth |access-date=26 July 2024 |website=GOV.UK}}

One of Starmer's first acts was the cancellation of the controversial Rwanda asylum plan, describing it as "dead and buried".{{Cite news |last1=Riley-Smith |first1=Ben |last2=Hymas |first2=Charles |date=5 July 2024 |title=Starmer kills off Rwanda plan on first day as PM |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/05/starmer-kills-off-rwanda-plan-on-first-day-as-pm/ |access-date=6 July 2024 |work=The Telegraph |location=London}}{{Cite web |date=6 July 2024 |title=Sir Keir Starmer confirms Rwanda plan 'dead' on day one as PM |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz9dn8erg3zo |access-date=7 July 2024 |website=BBC News}} Cooper established the Border Security Command to tackle smuggling gangs which facilitate illegal migrant crossings over the English Channel.{{Cite news |last1=Riley-Smith |first1=Ben |last2=Hymas |first2=Charles |date=5 July 2024 |title=Starmer kills off Rwanda plan on first day as PM |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/05/starmer-kills-off-rwanda-plan-on-first-day-as-pm/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706181847/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/05/starmer-kills-off-rwanda-plan-on-first-day-as-pm/ |archive-date=6 July 2024 |access-date=6 July 2024 |work=The Telegraph |location=London}}{{Cite news |date=7 July 2024 |title=Cooper sets out plan to tackle small boat crossings |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp08vyg436jo |access-date=7 July 2024 |work=BBC News}}

Shortly after taking office, Starmer said that there were "too many prisoners",{{Cite web |date=6 July 2024 |title=We have too many prisoners, says new PM Keir Starmer |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c16jpkzz9g3o |access-date=12 September 2024 |website=BBC News}} and described the previous government as having acted "almost beyond recklessness".{{Cite web |title=Sir Keir Starmer does not rule out 20,000 prisoners being released early |url=https://news.sky.com/story/sir-keir-starmer-does-not-rule-out-20-000-prisoners-being-released-early-13176700 |access-date=12 September 2024 |website=Sky News}} Saying it would help manage prison overcrowding, the newly appointed Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, announced the implementation of an early release scheme which allowed for prisoners in England and Wales to be released after serving 40 per cent of their sentences rather than the 50 per cent previously introduced under the last government.{{Cite web |title=Thousands of prisoners to be released early to ease overcrowding |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crg5vp0296eo |access-date=12 September 2024 |website=www.bbc.com|date=12 July 2024 }} Over 1,700 prisoners were released in September, with further releases expected in the following year.{{Cite web |date=10 September 2024 |title=Prisoners released early but some victims 'not warned' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c23ljkrx0e2o |access-date=12 September 2024 |website=BBC News}} It then emerged that one prisoner released early under the scheme was charged with sexual assault relating to an alleged offence against a woman on the same day he was freed.{{cite web |title=Government defends early release scheme after freed prisoner charged with sexual assault |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cnvdy22gje4o |website=BBC News |date=14 September 2024 |access-date=18 September 2024}} Starmer has defended the releasing of prisoners, and accused the previous government of having "broke[n] the prison system".{{Cite web |date=11 September 2024 |title=Starmer defends releasing prisoners from jail early to free up cell space |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/prime-minister-nigel-farage-moj-commons-home-office-b2610976.html |access-date=12 September 2024 |website=The Independent}}

In Government, Starmer reaffirmed the outgoing Conservative government's commitment of no new HIV cases in the United Kingdom by 2030. On 10 February 2025, Starmer, alongside singer and HIV activist Beverley Knight and Terrence Higgins Trust chief executive Richard Angell, recorded himself taking a rapid HIV home test. This made Starmer the first serving British Prime Minister and serving G7 leader to take a test on camera.{{cite news|url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/uk/keir-starmer-leads-by-example-first-pm-public-hiv-test/|title=Keir Starmer 'leads by example' as he becomes first PM to have public HIV test as part of goal to eliminate virus|last=Soteriou|first=Emma|date=10 February 2025|work=LBC|access-date=10 February 2025}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/02/10/keir-starmer-hiv-test-reduce-stigma/|title=Keir Starmer takes home HIV test to help reduce stigma|last=Hansford|first=Amelia|date=10 February 2025|work=PinkNews|access-date=10 February 2025}} In March 2025, Starmer, along with Health Secretary Wes Streeting announced a two-year plan to abolish NHS England, saying it would to reduce bureaucracy and increase funding available for more effective purposes within the service.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crknrrz7ln6o |work=BBC News |access-date=14 March 2025 |archive-date=14 March 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250314004703/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crknrrz7ln6o |title=What does NHS England do? Your questions answered on health reforms |date=14 March 2025 |first1=Nick |last1=Triggle |last2=Catt |first2=Helen}}{{cite news |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c70w17dj258o |access-date=14 March 2025 |date=14 March 2025 |title=NHS England to be axed as role returns to government control |archive-date=14 March 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250314013612/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c70w17dj258o |first=Becky |last=Morton}}

Starmer has declined to abolish the two-child benefit cap introduced by the Cameron–Clegg coalition government in 2013, citing financial reasons.{{cite news |last=Byron |first=Daniel |date=17 July 2023 |title=Sir Kid Starver: Starmer's got a new nickname thanks to Twitter users |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/23661741.sir-kid-starver-starmers-got-new-nickname-thanks-twitter-users/ |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=The National}}{{cite news |last=Patrick |first=Holly |date=18 July 2023 |title=Keir Starmer nicknamed 'Sir Kid Starver' over Labour plans to keep two-child benefit cap |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/labour-keir-starmer-benefits-nickname-b2377242.html |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=The Independent}}{{Cite web |date=21 July 2024 |title=Rachel Reeves doubles down on refusal to scrap two-child benefit cap |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/rachel-reeves-two-child-benefit-cap-b2583236.html |access-date=4 August 2024 |website=The Independent}} On 23 July 2024 Labour withdrew the whip from seven of its MPs who had supported an amendment tabled by the Scottish National Party's Westminster parliamentary leader Stephen Flynn to scrap it, with Flynn saying that scrapping the cap would immediately raise 300,000 children out of poverty. MPs rejected the SNP amendment by 363 votes to 103.{{cite news |date=23 July 2024 |title=Labour suspends seven rebel MPs over two-child benefit cap |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c978m6z3egno |publisher=BBC News}} The seven Labour MPs suspended for six months were John McDonnell, Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Apsana Begum, Imran Hussain, Zarah Sultana, and Rebecca Long-Bailey, all of whom now sit as independents. Starmer launched a Child Poverty Taskforce, in which expert officials from across government would work together on how best to support more than four million children living in poverty.{{Cite web |date=17 July 2024 |title=Starmer sets up taskforce for 4m UK children in poverty |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn081lyqw44o |access-date=26 July 2024 |website=BBC News}}

File:Keir Starmer meeting police chiefs.jpg at 10 Downing Street, 1 August 2024.]]

Following the 2024 Southport stabbing, in which three young girls were killed, Starmer described the incident as horrendous and shocking and thanked emergency services for their swift response.{{cite news |date=29 July 2024 |title=Southport incident 'horrendous and deeply shocking' – Starmer |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cevwgqz0x41t?post=asset%3A2ad0f578-b872-4a07-8f8c-3686d067b045#post |access-date=29 July 2024 |work=BBC News |quote=I would like to thank the police and emergency services for their swift response.}} He visited Southport and laid flowers at the scene, where he was heckled by some members of the public.{{cite news |last1=Stringer |first1=Connor |date=30 July 2024 |title='How many more children will die?': Starmer heckled on Southport visit |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/07/30/watch-prime-minister-heckled-southport-knife-attack/ |access-date=30 July 2024 |work=The Telegraph}} Starmer later wrote amidst the riots across England and Northern Ireland following the stabbing that those who had "hijacked the vigil for the victims" had "insulted the community as it grieves" and that rioters would feel the full force of the law.{{cite news |date=30 July 2024 |title=Prime minister: Rioters will 'feel the full force of the law' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2024/jul/30/southport-stabbing-latest-knife-attack-children-hospital-merseyside?page=with%3Ablock-66a965bf8f089a1d7c5fb7ff#block-66a965bf8f089a1d7c5fb7ff |access-date=30 July 2024 |newspaper=The Guardian}}

On 1 August, and following a meeting with senior police officers, Starmer announced the establishment of a National Violent Disorder Programme to facilitate greater cooperation between police forces when dealing with violent disorder.{{Cite web |last=Fatima |first=Zahra |date=1 August 2024 |title=Starmer announces new plan for police forces to tackle violent disorder |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnk4e5g70pko |accessdate=1 August 2024 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC}} On 4 August Starmer stated that rioters "will feel the full force of the law" and that "You will regret taking part in this, whether directly or those whipping up this action online and then running away themselves". He added "I won't shy away from calling it what it is – far-right thuggery".{{cite news |date=4 August 2024 |title=PM condemns 'far-right thuggery' on UK streets and says those involved 'will regret it' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c0jqjxe8d1yt?post=asset%3A1e537bd2-42e2-46bb-9dc2-db5e92a76414#post |access-date=4 August 2024 |work=BBC News}}{{Cite web |date=4 August 2024 |title=UK riots: Sir Keir Starmer condemns 'far-right thuggery' |url=https://news.sky.com/story/uk-riots-sir-keir-starmer-condemns-far-right-thuggery-13190805 |accessdate=4 August 2024 |website=Sky News}} Starmer later called an emergency response meeting of COBRA.{{Cite news |last=Clarke-Billings |first=Lucy |date=4 August 2024 |title=UK protests: No 10 to hold Cobra meeting over escalating violence |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpwddpzyxpzo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805011114/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpwddpzyxpzo |archive-date=5 August 2024 |access-date=5 August 2024 |work=BBC News}} After the COBRA meeting, Starmer ordered a "standing army" to be set up to tackle the ongoing "far-right" riots. This was possible under the special emergency powers which were first used 40 years ago under the Ridley Plan, to tackle striking miners in 1984 and 1985.{{Cite web |date=5 August 2024 |title=Starmer creates 'standing army' of specialist police officers to crush rioters |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/starmer-standing-army-specialist-police-riots-b2591415.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805235225/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/starmer-standing-army-specialist-police-riots-b2591415.html |archive-date=5 August 2024 |access-date=6 August 2024 |website=The Independent}}

Starmer rejected calls from some MPs – including Labour MP Diane Abbott, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Conservative Dame Priti Patel – to recall parliament to Westminster.{{Cite web |last=Whannel |first=Kate |date=5 August 2024 |title=Keir Starmer rejects calls for recall of Parliament |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cevjjgy278ro |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805145336/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cevjjgy278ro |archive-date=5 August 2024 |access-date=5 August 2024 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC}} After he said "large social media companies and those who run them" were contributing to the disorder, Elon Musk, the owner of X, criticised Starmer for not condemning all participants and only blaming the far-right.{{Cite news |last1=Riley-Smith |first1=Ben |last2=Penna |first2=Dominic |date=5 August 2024 |title=Starmer clashes with Musk over UK riot remarks |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/08/05/starmer-attacks-musk-over-claims-uk-civil-war-is-inevitable/ |access-date=5 August 2024 |work=The Telegraph |issn=0307-1235}}{{Cite web |date=8 January 2025 |title=A history of Elon Musk and Keir Starmer's relationship |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/elon-musk-keir-starmer-grooming-gangs-b2675713.html |access-date=13 January 2025 |website=The Independent |language=en}} Musk further said Starmer was not protecting all communities in the United Kingdom, which he said had a "two-tier" policing system.{{Cite web |date=8 August 2024 |title=Elon Musk lashes out at the UK again as Sunak holidays in California |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/elon-musk-riots-rishi-sunak-b2593155.html |website=The Independent}}{{cite news |date=6 August 2024 |title=Musk brands Starmer 'two-tier Keir' amid row over riot policing |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/06/riots-police-tackle-all-sides-equal-ferocity-two-tier/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807004921/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/06/riots-police-tackle-all-sides-equal-ferocity-two-tier/ |archive-date=7 August 2024 |access-date=7 August 2024 |work=The Daily Telegraph}}{{Cite web |date=7 August 2024 |title=UK disorder: What's Elon Musk's game? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cze5gd1jzkeo |access-date=7 August 2024 |website=BBC News}}

File:Rachel Reeves Chancellor.jpg Rachel Reeves, 6 July 2024]]

The new Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, accused the previous government of leaving a £21.9bn "black hole", and announced on 29 July that certain winter fuel payments would be scrapped for around 10 million pensioners.{{Cite news |title=Chancellor Rachel Reeves scraps some winter fuel payments as she reveals cuts to fill 'black hole' in public finances |url= https://news.sky.com/story/chancellor-rachel-reeves-scraps-some-winter-fuel-payments-as-she-reveals-cuts-to-fill-black-hole-in-public-finances-13186834 |access-date=12 September 2024 |first=Alexandra |last=Rogers |date=29 July 2024 |website=Sky News}}{{cite news |title=Warning more older people will live in poverty |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdx92n4z0l6o |website=BBC News |date=1 October 2024 |access-date=2 October 2024}} Following criticism of the plan, Starmer has defended the scrapping of these winter fuel payments, arguing that he had to make "tough decisions to stabilise the economy".{{Cite news |date=4 September 2024 |title=PMQs: Keir Starmer defends cutting winter fuel payments |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9852q38ljdo |access-date=12 September 2024 |website=BBC News}}{{Cite news |date=8 September 2024 |title=Keir Starmer defends tough decision to cut winter fuel payment |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgm7rnlz81do |access-date=12 September 2024 |website=BBC News}} On 10 September the Government benches defeated a Conservative Party motion in Parliament by a majority of 120 to block the measure.{{Cite news |title= Millions of pensioners will lose winter fuel payments as government wins vote on cut |url= https://news.sky.com/story/mps-vote-to-cut-winter-fuel-payment-for-millions-of-pensioners-13212264 |first=Faye |last=Brown |date=10 September 2024 |access-date=12 September 2024 |website=Sky News}}

Starmer's Labour Government inherited a number of ongoing industrial disputes from the preceding Conservative Government and agreed pay deals with trade unions representing NHS and railway workers, ending strikes in the first few months of taking office.{{cite news |date=19 August 2024 |title=Starmer Faces Growing UK Strike Action in Next Test for Premier |first=Alex |last=Wickham |work=BNN Bloomberg |location= Toronto |url= https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/company-news/2024/08/19/starmer-faces-growing-uk-strike-action-in-next-test-for-premier/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240819125602/https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/company-news/2024/08/19/starmer-faces-growing-uk-strike-action-in-next-test-for-premier/ |archive-date=19 August 2024 |access-date=19 August 2024}} In August 2024, Starmer's government agreed to increase public-sector worker pay by 5 to 7 per cent.{{Cite news |date=16 August 2024 |title=Tories accuse Starmer of losing control of public sector pay with strike deals |first=Rowena |last=Mason |url= https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/aug/16/tories-accuse-starmer-of-losing-control-of-public-sector-pay-with-strike-deals |work=The Guardian |location= London}}

On 10 October, the Government implemented the most significant enhancement of employment regulations in a generation. This included an increase in minimum wages and a wide array of rights, such as immediate protection against unfair dismissal and the entitlement for employees to request flexible working arrangements, unless the employer can demonstrate that such arrangements are impractical.{{Cite web |date=14 October 2024 |title=Was Starmer's investment summit a success? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg3j30mly4o |access-date=2 November 2024 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=10 October 2024 |title=Government unveils significant reforms to employment rights |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-unveils-most-significant-reforms-to-employment-rights |access-date=2 November 2024 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} Billions worth of investments in emerging growth sectors including AI and life sciences, and infrastructure were unveiled by businesses and ministers at the government's inaugural International Investment Summit on 14 October 2024. World-renowned CEOs and investors from around the world convened with ministers, First Ministers, and local leaders at the Guildhall in London.{{Cite web |title=Major investment deals set to be announced at government's inaugural International Investment Summit as PM vows to 'remove needless regulation' declaring Britain open for business |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-investment-deals-set-to-be-announced-at-governments-inaugural-international-investment-summit-as-pm-vows-to-remove-needless-regulation-declar |access-date=2 November 2024 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}

On 11 September 2024, Starmer pledged that there would be no more money for the NHS without reform. In response to the report from a nine-week review conducted by peer and NHS surgeon Lord Darzi, which said that the NHS in England was in a critical condition, Starmer said the solution was reform, not money, and that there will be no more money without reform.{{Cite news |last=Triggle |first=Nick |date=11 September 2024 |title=No extra NHS funding without reform, says PM |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3w6g0gzw40o |work=BBC News}}

The October 2024 budget was presented to the House of Commons by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves on 30 October 2024. She is the first woman to present a British government budget, marking the Labour Party's first Budget in over 14 years. It covered Labour's fiscal plans, with a focus on investment, healthcare, education, childcare, sustainable energy, transport, and worker's rights enrichment. The National Minimum Wage is set to increase by 6.7 per cent (reaching £12.21 per hour) and a £22.6 billion increase in the day-to-day health budget was announced, with a £3.1 billion increase in the capital budget. That includes £1 billion for hospital repairs and rebuilding projects.{{Cite news |last1=Jolly |first1=Jasper |last2=Walker |first2=Peter |date=30 October 2024 |title=Budget 2024: key points at a glance |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/oct/30/budget-2024-key-points-at-a-glance |access-date=1 November 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} The government plans to allocate £5 billion for housing investment in the fiscal year 2025–26, with a focus on enhancing the availability of affordable housing. Education will receive £6.7 billion of capital investment, a 19 per cent real-terms increase. This includes £1.4 billion to rebuild more than 500 schools.{{Cite web |title=Economic and fiscal outlook – October 2024 |url=https://obr.uk/efo/economic-and-fiscal-outlook-october-2024/ |access-date=1 November 2024 |website=Office for Budget Responsibility |language=en-GB}}

In September 2024, Starmer and fellow senior government ministers faced criticism for accepting gifts from Labour donors.{{Cite web |last=Eaton |first=George |date=18 September 2024 |title=Why Keir Starmer's freebies have become a political problem |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2024/09/why-keir-starmers-freebies-have-become-a-political-problem |access-date=22 September 2024 |website=New Statesman |language=en-US}} Starmer also faced accusations of breaking parliamentary rules by not declaring £5,000 worth of clothes bought for his wife by Labour donor Lord Alli.{{cite web |title=Victoria Starmer, PM's wife, had £5,000 of clothes paid for by donor |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/victoria-starmer-keir-wife-clothes-2s35fbgwq |website=The Times |date=16 September 2024 |access-date=23 September 2024}}{{Subscription required}}{{cite news |title=Keir Starmer alleged to have broken rules over party donor's gifts to wife |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/sep/14/keir-starmer-alleged-to-have-broken-parliamentary-rules-over-gifts-to-wife |website=The Guardian |date=14 September 2024 |access-date=18 September 2024 |last1=Badshah |first1=Nadeem }} That same month, Sky News reported that Starmer had received £107,145 in gifts, benefits, and hospitality since December 2019, which was two-and-a-half times more than any other MP.{{cite web |title=Sir Keir Starmer declares gifts and freebies totalling more than £100,000 – the highest of any MP |url=https://news.sky.com/story/sir-keir-starmer-declares-gifts-and-freebies-totalling-more-than-163100000-the-highest-of-any-mp-13217287 |website=Sky News |access-date=18 September 2024}}

{{Main|List of international prime ministerial trips made by Keir Starmer}}

File:Prime Minister Keir Starmer attends NATO Summit (53848484003) (cropped) (cropped).jpg]]

In July 2024, following the 2024 general election, US President Joe Biden congratulated Starmer on "a hell of a victory".{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/keir-starmer-joe-biden-phone-call-video-b2575374.html |title=Watch: Keir Starmer takes phone call from Joe Biden after general election win |date=6 July 2024 |type=News |publisher=The Independent |access-date=8 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709111633/https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/keir-starmer-joe-biden-phone-call-video-b2575374.html |archive-date=9 July 2024 |url-status=live }} Starmer and Biden discussed their shared commitment to the Special Relationship between the US and the UK, as well as their mutual support of Ukraine.

Following the first attempted assassination of Donald Trump, the former president of the United States at the time, Starmer posted on X (formerly Twitter) saying "Political violence in any form has no place in our societies" and extended his best wishes to Trump and his family.{{Cite web |last=Starmer |first=Keir |date=14 July 2024 |title=I am appalled by the shocking scenes at President Trump's rally and we send him and his family our best wishes. Political violence in any form has no place in our societies and my thoughts are with all the victims of this attack. |url=https://twitter.com/Keir_Starmer/status/1812279718621716489 |website=Twitter}}

File:Starmer-Trump bilateral 2025-02-27-17-56.jpg, 27 February 2025]]In September 2024, during a visit to New York City to address the UN General Assembly, Starmer met Republican Party presidential candidate Donald Trump at Trump Tower. Following the meeting, Starmer said it was "good" to have met with Trump and that the meeting was an opportunity for both Trump and Starmer to establish a working relationship.{{cite web |title=Keir Starmer meets Donald Trump for the first time |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2439897mg2o |website=BBC News |access-date=30 November 2024 |date=26 September 2024}} Following Trump's election victory in the 2024 United States presidential election, Starmer called Trump to formally congratulate him on 6 November and was assured that the "special relationship" between the United Kingdom and United States "would continue to thrive".{{cite web |title=Keir Starmer congratulates Donald Trump in first call after US election |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz0m9d2dng1o |website=BBC News |access-date=30 November 2024 |date=6 November 2024}}

In February 2025 Starmer met with President Trump at the White House to discuss continued support to Ukraine and a potential peace deal. They additionally discussed a potential trade deal. He also presented a hand written letter from King Charles III inviting the President to a historic second state visit to the UK.{{cite web |title=Key takeaways from Starmer's talks with Trump |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgee7rl24ro |website=BBC News |access-date=28 February 2025 |date=28 February 2025}}{{cite web |title=UK's Starmer says ending Russia's war in Ukraine 'can't be peace that rewards the aggressor' |url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-starmer-ukraine-28ca602f1df21af5797ba949f36160f3 |website=Associated Press News |access-date=28 February 2025 |date=28 February 2025}}

File:Prime Minister Keir Starmer attends NATO Summit (53848235486).jpg at the NATO summit in 2024]]

The first overseas meeting Starmer attended as prime minister was the 2024 NATO summit held in Washington from 9 to 11 July 2024.{{Cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=Eliot |date=9 July 2024 |title=What will Starmer's fellow world leaders make of him at the NATO summit? |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/what-will-starmers-fellow-world-leaders-make-of-him-at-the-nato-summit/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709111101/https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/what-will-starmers-fellow-world-leaders-make-of-him-at-the-nato-summit/ |archive-date=9 July 2024 |access-date=9 July 2024 |website=The Spectator}}{{Cite web |date=9 July 2024 |title=Keir Starmer to take first steps on world stage at NATO summit in Washington |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2024-07-09/starmer-to-take-first-steps-on-world-stage-at-nato-summit-in-washington |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709113332/https://www.itv.com/news/2024-07-09/starmer-to-take-first-steps-on-world-stage-at-nato-summit-in-washington |archive-date=9 July 2024 |access-date=9 July 2024 |website=ITV News}} On the flight to the summit, Starmer laid out a "cast iron" commitment to increase defence spending to the NATO target of 2.5 per cent of GDP in line with the NATO target, following a "root and branch" review of British armed forces.{{Cite web |last=Mason |first=Chris |date=9 July 2024 |title=PM says defence spending commitment 'cast iron' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ceqd2x5793no |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709223845/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ceqd2x5793no |archive-date=9 July 2024 |access-date=9 July 2024 |website=BBC News}}{{Cite web |last1=Fisher |first1=Lucy |last2=Foy |first2=Henry |date=9 July 2024 |title=Starmer plans 'road map' for UK to hit higher defence spending goal |url=https://www.ft.com/content/cdaaab5e-eead-47ce-890c-cf66473b7a82 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709224227/https://www.ft.com/content/cdaaab5e-eead-47ce-890c-cf66473b7a82 |archive-date=9 July 2024 |access-date=9 July 2024 |website=Financial Times}}

Since he became prime minister Starmer has sought to "reset" UK relations with the European Union following Brexit, which he opposed. He met with a number of European leaders during his first few months in office.{{cite web |date=28 August 2024 |title=UK's Starmer, Germany's Scholz seek reset in British-EU ties with comprehensive treaty |url=https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240828-uk-s-starmer-germany-s-scholz-seek-reset-in-british-eu-ties-with-comprehensive-treaty |access-date=22 September 2024 |website=France 24}}{{cite web |date=15 September 2024 |title=Keir Starmer in Italy to discuss migration with PM Georgia Meloni |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cnvdy6ze761o |access-date=22 September 2024 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

On 27 August 2024, Starmer and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced talks towards revising a Germany-UK co-operation agreement covering areas including defence, energy security, science and technology.{{cite web |date=27 August 2024 |title=Keir Starmer: Reset with EU does not mean reversing Brexit |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg3pxz4334o |access-date=22 September 2024 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

File:Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets President Zelenskyy (53848423375).jpg Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 10 July 2024]]

At the 2024 NATO summit, Starmer signalled that Ukraine could use British Storm Shadow missiles, sent by HMG by way of military aid, to strike military targets inside Russia, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{cite web |last=Wickham |first=Alex |date=10 July 2024 |title=Starmer Says Ukraine Can Use UK Missiles to Strike Inside Russia |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-10/starmer-says-ukraine-can-use-uk-missiles-to-strike-inside-russia |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710224227/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-10/starmer-says-ukraine-can-use-uk-missiles-to-strike-inside-russia |archive-date=10 July 2024 |access-date=10 July 2024 |website=Bloomberg}} In a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Starmer called for an "irreversible" membership strategy for Ukraine to join NATO.{{Cite web |last=Maddox |first=David |date=10 July 2024 |title=Starmer gets first big diplomatic win with 'irreversible' Ukraine NATO membership plan |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/starmer-ukraine-irreversible-nato-membership-b2577476.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710200514/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/starmer-ukraine-irreversible-nato-membership-b2577476.html |archive-date=10 July 2024 |access-date=10 July 2024 |website=The Independent}}

Following a heated meeting between U.S. President Trump and President Zelenskyy at the White House, Starmer organized a summit of European leaders in London. Among the things discussed at the summit were continued support for Ukraine, security guarantees for the country and peace efforts.{{Cite news |date=2 March 2025 |title=Prime Minister Keir Starmer to host leaders summit on Ukraine|url= https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-keir-starmer-to-host-leaders-summit-on-ukraine |access-date=2 March 2025 |work=UK Government}}

In November 2024, Starmer met Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro and told him he wanted to build a 'consistent, durable, respectful' relationship with China.{{cite news |title=We want 'strong' UK-China relationship, says Starmer |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1dp6wgk72ro |work=BBC News |date=18 November 2024}}

File:Prime Minister Keir Starmer attends the G20 Summit in Brazil (54147616322).jpg]]

In October 2023, Starmer said Israel had the right to cut off power and water from Gaza.{{cite news |date=11 October 2023 |title=Israel 'has the right' to withhold power and water from Gaza, says Sir Keir Starmer |url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/sir-keir-starmer-hamas-terrorism-israel-defend-itself/ |access-date=19 January 2025 |website=LBC}} He backtracked the comment days later after significant controversy within his party, including a number of resignations among Labour councillors.{{cite news |date=20 October 2023 |title=Sir Keir Starmer seeks to clarify Gaza remarks following backlash from Labour councillors |url=https://news.sky.com/story/sir-keir-starmer-seeks-to-clarify-gaza-remarks-following-backlash-from-labour-councillors-12988235 |access-date=19 January 2025 |website=Sky News}} Starmer has pledged support for Israel in the Gaza war, but has also called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip since February 2024, having previously refused to call for one during his tenure as Opposition Leader.{{cite news |last=Francis |first=Sam |date=18 February 2024 |title=Sir Keir Starmer calls for Gaza 'ceasefire that lasts' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68331322 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218130639/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68331322 |archive-date=18 February 2024 |access-date=18 February 2024 |website=BBC News}}{{cite news |last=Walker |first=James |date=8 July 2024 |title=Keir Starmer on Gaza: A timeline of the new Prime Minister's position |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/24438311.keir-starmer-gaza-timeline-new-prime-ministers-position/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709111633/https://www.thenational.scot/news/24438311.keir-starmer-gaza-timeline-new-prime-ministers-position/ |archive-date=9 July 2024 |access-date=9 July 2024 |work=The National}} In July 2024 Starmer assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that HMG would continue its "vital cooperation to deter malign threats" with Israel.{{cite news |date=8 July 2024 |title=UK's new PM Starmer says 'urgent' need for Gaza ceasefire |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/8/uks-new-pm-starmer-calls-for-urgent-need-for-gaza-ceasefire |work=Al Jazeera}}

Under Starmer's premiership, the licences of some British arms sales to Israel were suspended in September 2024 because of a "clear risk" that the weapons could be used in violation of international law. Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced the UK Government's suspension of 30 out of 350 arms export licences to Israel, affecting equipment such as parts for fighter jets, helicopters and drones.{{cite web |date=2 September 2024 |title=UK suspends some arms exports to Israel |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd05pk95j2xo#:~:text=The%20UK%20has%20suspended%20some%20arms%20sales%20to,as%20parts%20for%20fighter%20jets,%20helicopters%20and%20drones. |access-date=22 September 2024 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

{{main|Political positions of Keir Starmer}}

Starmer's political positions significantly changed after the 2020 Labour Party leadership election, which he won on a ten-pledge left-leaning platform. Most of the pledges, including increasing income tax on the top 5 per cent of earners, abolishing university tuition fees, and support for freedom of movement, were abandoned or substantially changed during Starmer's tenure as Labour and Opposition leader. Starmer defended changing positions on these issues by stating that the changing economic circumstances made these pledges unrealistic.{{cite news |date=9 February 2024 |title=Keir Starmer: The politics of a U-turn |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68247994 |access-date=25 September 2024 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{cite web |date=8 February 2024 |title=All Keir Starmer's Labour U-turns in one place |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/keir-starmer-labour-party-uk-election-u-turns/ |access-date=25 September 2024 |website=POLITICO |language=en-GB}}{{cite web |last=Barradale |first=Greg |date=16 May 2024 |title=All of Keir Starmer's screeching U-turns and abandoned policy pledges |url=https://www.bigissue.com/news/politics/keir-starmer-broken-promises-tuition-fees-nationalisation-u-turn/ |access-date=25 September 2024 |website=Big Issue |language=en-US}}{{cite web |date=2 May 2023 |title=How many of Sir Keir Starmer's 10 pledges still stand? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/rachel-reeves-jonathan-ashworth-lisa-nandy-steve-reed-government-b2330892.html |access-date=25 September 2024 |website=The Independent}}

Some commentators, judging that Starmer has led his party towards the political centre in order to improve its electability, attempt to liken what he has accomplished in this regard with Tony Blair's development of New Labour.{{cite journal |last=Webb |first=Niles |date=July 2023 |title=Labour's Politics of Anti-Neoliberalism from Corbyn to Starmer |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1467-923X.13302 |url-status=live |journal=The Political Quarterly |volume=94 |issue=3 |pages=384–392 |doi=10.1111/1467-923X.13302 |issn=0032-3179 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240629114406/https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1467-923X.13302 |archive-date=29 June 2024 |access-date=5 July 2024}} Others regard his changes of policy as testament that Starmer holds no clearly-defined philosophy.{{cite news |last1=Grierson |first1=Jamie |last2=Stewart |first2=Heather |date=15 December 2019 |title=Labour leadership contest: who are the runners and riders? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/15/labour-leadership-contest-who-are-the-runners-and-riders |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519083406/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/15/labour-leadership-contest-who-are-the-runners-and-riders |archive-date=19 May 2023 |access-date=19 May 2023 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077 |quote=Away from Brexit, his politics are less clear.}}{{cite news |date=27 February 2020 |title=Keir Starmer, a serious Labour man |url=https://www.economist.com/britain/2020/02/27/keir-starmer-a-serious-labour-man |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519083406/https://www.economist.com/britain/2020/02/27/keir-starmer-a-serious-labour-man |archive-date=19 May 2023 |access-date=19 May 2023 |newspaper=The Economist |issn=0013-0613 |quote=While it is hard to define what Sir Keir stands for politically, it is clear what he isn't: a populist. He personifies the 'blob' that populists accuse of frustrating the will of the people.}}{{cite news |date=6 April 2020 |title=The Guardian view on Keir Starmer: a serious politician |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/06/the-guardian-view-on-keir-starmer-a-serious-politician |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519083408/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/06/the-guardian-view-on-keir-starmer-a-serious-politician |archive-date=19 May 2023 |access-date=19 May 2023 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077 |quote=This makes it hard to define what Sir Keir stands for politically. But it is clear what he is not: a populist.}} A third group think that Starmer does subscribe to a definite ideology and that it is towards the left end of the socialist spectrum, arguing that "Labour under Starmer has advanced a politics of anti-neoliberalism like that of Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell", and that Starmer "differs markedly from New Labour" in "aspiring to restructure an economic model perceived to have failed". Figures including Starmer's former boss – the barrister Geoffrey Robertson{{cite news |last1=Robertson |first1=Geoffrey |author-link=Geoffrey Robertson |date=7 July 2024 |title=Keir Starmer Was Once my Apprentice – and this is How I Think he Might Fare as Prime Minister |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jul/07/keir-starmer-prime-minister-geoffrey-robertson |work=The Guardian |location=London}} – his former advisor Simon Fletcher,{{cite news |last1=Fletcher |first1=Simon |author-link=Simon Fletcher (political advisor) |date=9 October 2023 |title=Keir Starmer's Authoritarian Approach to Politics Risks Stifling a Labour Government |url=https://bylinetimes.com/2023/10/09/keir-starmer-authoritarian-approach-to-politics-risks-stifling-a-labour-government/ |work=Byline Times |publisher=Byline Media Holdings |location=London}} and the journalist and broadcaster Peter Oborne,{{cite news |last1=Oborne |first1=Peter |author1-link=Peter Oborne |last2=Sanders |first2=Richard |date=26 September 2023 |title=UK Labour: Why Starmer's growing authoritarianism should be ringing alarm bells |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/uk-labour-starmer-authoritarianism-alarm-bells-ringing |work=Middle East Eye |publisher=M.E.E. Ltd |location=London}} have described Starmer as exhibiting an authoritarian approach.{{cite news |last=Eagleton |first=Oliver |date=3 July 2024 |title=Britain's Next Prime Minister Has Shown Us Who He Is, and it's Not Good |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/03/opinion/britain-election-keir-starmer.html |work=The New York Times}} Despite the lack of consensus as yet about the character and even existence of Starmer's ideology, it has acquired a neologism, Starmerism, and his supporters have been called Starmerites.{{Cite news |last=Fielding |first=Steven |date=29 December 2020 |title=What does Starmer stand for? |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/looking-for-starmerism/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620112505/https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/looking-for-starmerism/ |archive-date=20 June 2023 |access-date=20 June 2023 |work=The Spectator}}{{Cite web |last=Self |first=Josh |date=2 May 2023 |title=For Starmerites, apostasy on 'tax and spend' is central to the creed |url=https://www.politics.co.uk/news-feature/2023/05/02/for-starmerites-apostasy-on-tax-and-spend-is-central-to-the-creed/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620112504/https://www.politics.co.uk/news-feature/2023/05/02/for-starmerites-apostasy-on-tax-and-spend-is-central-to-the-creed/ |archive-date=20 June 2023 |access-date=20 June 2023 |website=Politics.co.uk}} Starmer advisor Morgan McSweeney is often credited with having significantly influenced Starmer’s political positions.{{Cite web |title=Starmer's saviour? Insiders lift the lid on Morgan McSweeney, the PM's new closest confidante |url=https://news.sky.com/story/starmers-saviour-insiders-lift-the-lid-on-morgan-mcsweeney-the-pms-new-closest-confidante-13230168 |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Sky News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Mullin |first=Chris |date=2025-02-27 |title=Is Keir Starmer really Morgan McSweeney’s puppet? |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/is-keir-starmer-really-morgan-mcsweeneys-puppet/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=The Spectator |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |last=Shrimsley |first=Robert |date=2025-02-07 |title=Get In — Starmer takes a supporting role in the Morgan McSweeney story |url=https://www.ft.com/content/9bb98639-4571-4302-8d87-01d239034b11 |access-date=2025-04-22 |work=Financial Times}}{{Cite web |date=2024-10-07 |title=Morgan McSweeney: Who is the PM's new chief of staff? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy0l9z7qv0lo |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

File:Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner in government.jpg, Angela Rayner, 9 July 2024]]

In April 2023, Starmer gave an interview to The Economist on defining Starmerism.{{Cite news |date=26 April 2023 |title=Sir Keir Starmer on "Starmerism" |url=https://www.economist.com/britain/2023/04/26/sir-keir-starmer-on-starmerism |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620112503/https://www.economist.com/britain/2023/04/26/sir-keir-starmer-on-starmerism |archive-date=20 June 2023 |access-date=20 June 2023 |newspaper=The Economist}} In this interview, two main strands of Starmerism were identified. The first strand focused on a critique of the British state for being too ineffective and over-centralised. The answer to this critique was to base governance on five main missions to be followed over two terms of government: these missions would determine all government policy. The second strand was the adherence to an economic policy of "modern supply-side economics" based on expanding economic productivity by increasing participation in the labour market, reducing inequality, expanding skills, mitigating the impact of Brexit and simplifying the construction planning process. In June 2023 Starmer gave an interview to Time where he was asked to define Starmerism, stating: "Recognizing that our economy needs to be fixed. Recognizing that [solving] climate change isn't just an obligation; it's the single biggest opportunity that we've got for our country going forward. Recognizing that public services need to be reformed, that every child and every place should have the best opportunities and that we need a safe environment, safe streets, et cetera."{{Cite magazine |last=Serhan |first=Yasmeen |date=11 June 2023 |title=How Britain's Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer Plans to End 13 Years of Conservative Rule |url=https://time.com/6283983/keir-starmer-interview-leadership/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620112503/https://time.com/6283983/keir-starmer-interview-leadership/ |archive-date=20 June 2023 |access-date=20 June 2023 |magazine=Time}}

File:Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets Scotland First Minister (53841391301).jpg, First Minister of Scotland, 7 July 2024]]

Starmer has repeatedly emphasised the reform of public institutions (against a tax and spend approach), localism, and devolution. He has pledged to abolish the House of Lords, which he describes as "indefensible", during the first term of a Labour government and to replace it with a directly elected Assembly of the Regions and Nations, the details of which will be subject to scrutiny by public consultation. He criticised the Conservatives for creating peerages for "cronies and donors".{{cite news |last=Wells |first=Ione |date=20 November 2022 |title=Labour would abolish the House of Lords |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-63692981 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108041449/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-63692981 |archive-date=8 November 2023 |access-date=13 September 2023 |publisher=BBC News}} Starmer tasked former PM Gordon Brown with recommending British constitutional reforms,{{cite web |last=Quadri |first=Sami |date=5 December 2022 |title=Labour to abolish House of Lords 'as quickly as possible' |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/labour-house-of-lords-keir-starmer-gordon-brown-constitutional-review-b1044809.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013023918/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/labour-house-of-lords-keir-starmer-gordon-brown-constitutional-review-b1044809.html |archive-date=13 October 2023 |access-date=13 September 2023 |website=The Evening Standard}} whose report was published in 2022. Endorsed and promoted by Starmer, Brown's report recommended the abolition of the House of Lords, extending greater powers to local councils and mayors, and deeper devolution to the countries of the United Kingdom.{{cite news |date=21 June 2023 |title=Labour plans to expand Lords despite abolition pledge |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-65978167 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013023916/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-65978167 |archive-date=13 October 2023 |access-date=13 September 2023 |work=BBC News}} Labour's 2024 election manifesto committed to the removal of the remaining hereditary peers from the chamber, setting a mandatory retirement age of 80, and beginning a consultation on replacing the Lords with a "more representative" body.{{Cite news |author1=Sam Francis |author2=Brian Wheeler |date=13 June 2024 |title=Lords would have to retire at 80 under Labour plans |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c033dpqmnrgo |work=BBC News |access-date=21 June 2024 |archive-date=17 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617122447/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c033dpqmnrgo |url-status=live }} Starmer strongly favours green policies to tackle climate change and decarbonise the British economy. He has committed to eliminate fossil fuels from the UK electricity grid by 2030.{{cite web |last=Cooper |first=Charlie |date=7 September 2023 |title=Labour's Keir Starmer is a green activist to his core |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-labour-keir-starmer-is-a-green-activist-to-his-core/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913023824/https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-labour-keir-starmer-is-a-green-activist-to-his-core/ |archive-date=13 September 2023 |access-date=13 September 2023 |website=Politico}}{{cite news |last=Morton |first=Becky |date=9 June 2023 |title=Rachel Reeves waters down Labour £28bn green projects pledge |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-65853872 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920204515/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-65853872 |archive-date=20 September 2023 |access-date=13 September 2023 |publisher=BBC News}}

In a July 2024 statement to PinkNews ahead of the 2024 election, Starmer stated the Labour Party supported LGBT rights, including strengthening protections against hate crimes targeting members of the LGBT community, "modernising" the "intrusive and outdated" gender recognition framework, and a proposed, "trans-inclusive" ban on conversion therapy.{{Cite web |last=Perry |first=Sophie |date=3 July 2024 |title=Keir Starmer promises 'reset' on 'toxic' trans discourse if elected |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/07/03/keir-starmer-labour-2024-general-election-lgbtq/ |access-date=4 July 2024 |website=PinkNews |language=en-US}}{{cite news |last=Meighan |first=Craig |date=21 June 2024 |title=Starmer: No referendum for Scotland or going back on gender reform bill |url=https://news.stv.tv/scotland/keir-starmer-no-scottish-independence-referendum-or-going-back-on-gender-reforms-bill-if-labour-wins-election |access-date=8 July 2024 |work=STV}} Starmer has ruled out allowing transgender people to self-identify, has stated that trans women should not have the right to use women-only spaces,{{Cite news |last1=Gibbons |first1=Amy |last2=Sigsworth |first2=Tim |date=1 July 2024 |title=Trans women don't have the right to use female lavatories, suggests Starmer |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/07/01/labour-frontbencher-refuses-to-answer-trans-toilet-question/ |access-date= |work=The Daily Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}} and has also said he will continue the block on the Gender Recognition Reform Bill in Scotland.{{cite news |last=Simons |first=Ned |date=8 July 2024 |title=What Is Keir Starmer's New Position On transgender Self-ID? |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/what-is-keir-starmers-new-position-on-transgendergender-self-id_uk_64c3a61ce4b03ad2b897ee6d |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240603145621/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/what-is-keir-starmers-new-position-on-transgendergender-self-id_uk_64c3a61ce4b03ad2b897ee6d |archive-date=3 June 2024 |access-date=8 July 2024 |work=HuffPost}}{{cite news |last=Meighan |first=Craig |date=21 June 2024 |title=Starmer: No referendum for Scotland or going back on gender reform bill |url=https://news.stv.tv/scotland/keir-starmer-no-scottish-independence-referendum-or-going-back-on-gender-reforms-bill-if-labour-wins-election |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240701180927/https://news.stv.tv/scotland/keir-starmer-no-scottish-independence-referendum-or-going-back-on-gender-reforms-bill-if-labour-wins-election |archive-date=1 July 2024 |access-date=8 July 2024 |work=STV}}{{Cite web |last=Tabberer |first=Jamie |date=20 October 2023 |title=Show me the receipts: Examining Keir Starmer's history of LGBTQ-related statements |url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/news/politics/keir-starmer-receipts-450558/ |access-date=19 July 2024 |website=Attitude}} After taking office, the Labour Party announced a fully trans-inclusive conversion therapy ban.{{Cite news |last=Parker |first=Fiona |date=13 June 2024 |title=Labour pledges to ban conversion therapy |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/06/13/labour-pledges-to-ban-conversion-therapy-election-manifesto/ |access-date=3 August 2024 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}{{cite news |date=22 April 2021 |title=What is conversion therapy and when will it be banned? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers-56496423 |access-date=3 August 2024 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} Following the Supreme Court decision of For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers on 16 April 2025, Starmer, through a spokesperson, stated that he no longer believed that transgender women could be considered women, in accordance with the Court's ruling that the definition of a woman in the Equality Act 2010 only constituted "biological women".{{cite news |last=McKiernan |first=Jennifer |date=22 April 2025 |title=Starmer does not believe trans women are women, No 10 says |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crldey0z00ro |access-date=22 April 2025 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} After the murder of George Floyd by the police officer Derek Chauvin in the United States, against which numerous protests were held in the Western world, Starmer supported the Black Lives Matter movement, and took the knee alongside his deputy, Angela Rayner.{{cite web |title=George Floyd death: Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes a knee in support of Black Lives Matter movement |url=https://news.sky.com/story/george-floyd-death-labour-leader-sir-keir-starmer-takes-a-knee-in-support-of-black-lives-matter-movement-12003611 |access-date=5 August 2024 |website=Sky News}} One year on from Floyd's murder, Starmer promised a Race Equality Act, which he said would be a "defining cause" for his Labour Government.{{cite news |last1=Parveen |first1=Nazia |last2=Mohdin |first2=Aamna |date=25 May 2021 |title=Starmer promises race equality act, a year on from George Floyd's murder |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/25/starmer-promises-race-equality-act-a-year-on-from-george-floyds |access-date=5 August 2024 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}

In the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard in March 2021, Starmer called for longer sentences for rape and sexual violence.{{cite web |date=17 March 2021 |title=PMQs: As it happened – PM challenged on women's safety |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-56423687 |access-date=27 June 2024 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=9 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709111629/https://www.bbc.com/news/live/uk-politics-56423687 |url-status=live}} Starmer said he wanted to reduce crime, maintaining that "too many people do not feel safe in their streets".{{cite news |date=4 January 2021 |title=Sir Keir Starmer seeks to cement Labour opinion poll lead in speech |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-59862654 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412170655/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-59862654 |archive-date=12 April 2022 |access-date=8 May 2022 |work=BBC News}} He has pledged to halve the rates of violence against women and girls, halve the rates of serious violent crime, halve the incidents of knife crime, increase confidence in the criminal justice system, and create a 'Charging Commission'[https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/home-news/labour-charging-commission-crime-solving-b2389946.html www.the-independent.com] which would be "tasked with coming up with reforms to reverse the decline in the number of offences being solved".{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Faye |date=8 August 2023 |title=Labour pledges to reverse 'collapse in solving crime' with 'Charging Commission' |url=https://news.sky.com/story/labour-pledges-to-reverse-collapse-in-solving-crime-with-charging-commission-12936120 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013023916/https://news.sky.com/story/labour-pledges-to-reverse-collapse-in-solving-crime-with-charging-commission-12936120 |archive-date=13 October 2023 |access-date=13 September 2023 |website=Sky News}} He has also committed to placing specialist domestic violence workers in the control rooms of every police force responding to 999 calls to support victims of abuse.{{Cite press release |last=Starmer |first=Keir |date=23 March 2023 |title=Keir Starmer unveils mission to halve serious violent crime and raise confidence in the police and criminal justice system to its highest levels |url= https://labour.org.uk/press/keir-starmer-unveils-mission-to-halve-serious-violent-crime-and-raise-confidence-in-the-police-and-criminal-justice-system-to-its-highest-levels/ |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230926065127/https://labour.org.uk/press/keir-starmer-unveils-mission-to-halve-serious-violent-crime-and-raise-confidence-in-the-police-and-criminal-justice-system-to-its-highest-levels/ |archive-date=26 September 2023 |access-date=13 September 2023 |publisher= The Labour Party}} Starmer said that Blair's era of New Labour was right to be "tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime".{{Cite news |date=23 March 2023 |title=Keir Starmer promises to halve crime against women |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-65050644 |access-date=6 July 2024 |work=BBC News |archive-date=9 July 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240709111631/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-65050644 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Syal |first=Rajeev |date=25 June 2024 |title=Labour wants to 'take back our streets': Will this help people affected by crime? |url= https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jun/25/labour-wants-to-take-back-our-streets-will-this-help-people-affected-by |access-date=6 July 2024 |work=The Guardian |location= London |archive-date=8 July 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240708160039/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jun/25/labour-wants-to-take-back-our-streets-will-this-help-people-affected-by |url-status=live}} In June 2024 Starmer pledged to reduce the record high level of legal immigration to the UK,{{cite news |title=Sir Keir Starmer announces plans to lower legal migration |url=https://news.sky.com/story/sir-keir-starmer-announces-plans-to-lower-legal-migration-13146630 |work=Sky News |date=2 June 2024 |quote=Figures published after Rishi Sunak called the general election showed a net of 685,000 arrived in the UK last year – down from a record of 764,000 in 2022. ... In 2012, when the data from the Office for National Statistics starts, net migration was just under 200,000.}} and aims to reduce net migration by improving training and skills for British workers.{{cite web |date=2 June 2024 |title=Labour promises skills shakeup to cut net migration |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn331vd99lzo |access-date=8 July 2024 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=2 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602032546/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn331vd99lzo |url-status=live}}{{cite news |date=2 June 2024 |title=Keir Starmer pledges to slash 'sky-high' migration numbers under a Labour government |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/keir-starmer-slash-migration-labour-government-b2555190.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240702135259/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/keir-starmer-slash-migration-labour-government-b2555190.html |archive-date=2 July 2024 |access-date=8 July 2024 |work=The Independent}}

In December 2023, Starmer used Margaret Thatcher, as well as Tony Blair and Clement Attlee, as examples of how politicians can effect "meaningful change" by acting "in service of the British people, rather than dictating to them".{{cite news |last=Vernon |first=Hayden |date=2 December 2023 |title=Keir Starmer praises Margaret Thatcher for bringing 'meaningful change' to UK |url= https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/dec/02/keir-starmer-praises-margaret-thatcher-for-bringing-meaningful-change-to-uk |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240617065608/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/dec/02/keir-starmer-praises-margaret-thatcher-for-bringing-meaningful-change-to-uk |archive-date=17 June 2024 |access-date=15 June 2024 |work=The Guardian |location=London}}{{cite web |last=Wheeler |first=Richard |date=3 December 2023 |title=Sir Keir Starmer criticised for crediting Margaret Thatcher's 'sense of purpose' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/margaret-thatcher-britain-victoria-atkins-clement-attlee-tony-blair-b2457590.html |access-date=30 June 2024 |website=The Independent |archive-date=30 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240630181520/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/margaret-thatcher-britain-victoria-atkins-clement-attlee-tony-blair-b2457590.html |url-status=live}} Starmer has described the Labour Party as "deeply patriotic" and credits its most successful leaders, Attlee, Harold Wilson, and Blair, for policies "rooted in the everyday concerns of working people". Starmer advocates a government based on "security, prosperity and respect". In a speech in May 2023, Starmer stated:

{{blockquote|text=Don't mistake me, the very best of progressive politics is found in our determination to push Britain forward. A hunger, an ambition, that we can seize the opportunities of tomorrow and make them work for working people.

But this ambition must never become unmoored from working people's need for stability, for order, security. The Conservative Party can no longer claim to be conservative. It conserves nothing we value — not our rivers and seas, not our NHS or BBC, not our families, not our nation. We must understand there are precious things – in our way of life, in our environment, in our communities – that it is our responsibility to protect and preserve and to pass on to future generations. If that sounds Conservative, then let me tell you: I don't care.|author=Keir Starmer{{cite web |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/keir-starmer-dont-care-labours-priorities-conservative-2338849 |date=2023-05-13 |last=Duggan |first=Joe |title='I don't care' if Labour's priorities sound conservative, says Keir Starmer |work=The Independent |access-date=17 June 2024 |archive-date=15 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515165512/https://inews.co.uk/news/keir-starmer-dont-care-labours-priorities-conservative-2338849 |url-status=live}}|title= |source=}}

File:Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer arrives at 10 Downing Street (2) (53837066630) (cropped).jpg, outside No. 10, 5 July 2024]]

Starmer met Victoria Alexander, then a solicitor, in the early 2000s while he was a senior barrister with Doughty Street Chambers when they were working on the same case. They became engaged in 2004 and married on 6 May 2007 at the Fennes Estate[https://www.fennes.co.uk www.fennes.co.uk] just north of Bocking, Essex.{{cite news |last1=Strick |first1=Katie |date=2 July 2024 |title=Victoria Starmer: the no-nonsense solicitor set to become Britain's next first lady |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/victoria-starmer-solicitor-keir-wife-first-lady-b1164846.html |access-date=2 July 2024 |work=The Standard |archive-date=2 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240702115345/https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/victoria-starmer-solicitor-keir-wife-first-lady-b1164846.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=24 April 2020 |title=What do we know about Sir Keir Starmer's wife, Lady Starmer? |url=https://www.tatler.com/article/who-is-keir-starmers-wife-victoria |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818224913/https://www.tatler.com/article/who-is-keir-starmers-wife-victoria |archive-date=18 August 2020 |access-date= |work=Tatler}} The couple have two children, a son, who was born a year after their wedding, and a daughter, born two years after that. Both are being raised Jewish.{{cite news |last1=Harpin |first1=Lee |date=16 November 2020 |title=Starmer: Our kids are being brought up to know their Jewish backgrounds |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk/starmer-our-kids-are-being-brought-up-to-know-their-jewish-backgrounds-1.508720 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925100146/http://thejc.com/news/uk/starmer-our-kids-are-being-brought-up-to-know-their-jewish-backgrounds-1.508720 |archive-date=25 September 2022 |access-date= |work=The Jewish Chronicle}}{{cite news |last1=Hall |first1=Alice |date=23 May 2024 |title=Who Is Lady Victoria Starmer, Keir Starmer's Wife? |url=https://graziadaily.co.uk/life/in-the-news/lady-victoria-starmer/ |access-date=27 May 2024 |work=Grazia |archive-date=27 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527130423/https://graziadaily.co.uk/life/in-the-news/lady-victoria-starmer/ |url-status=live }} Until moving in to Downing Street, the couple resided in Kentish Town, north London, where they own a townhouse.{{cite news |last1=Thomson |first1=Alice |date=8 June 2024 |title=Meet Victoria Starmer, Keir's wife and most trusted adviser |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/who-lady-victoria-keir-starmer-wife-job-children-5xqmp8539 |access-date=9 June 2024 |work=The Times |archive-date=9 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240609091202/https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/who-lady-victoria-keir-starmer-wife-job-children-5xqmp8539 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |date=10 October 2023 |title=Keir Starmer's wife: Who is Lady Starmer? |url=https://news.sky.com/story/who-is-keir-starmers-wife-lady-victoria-starmer-12981688 |access-date=27 May 2024 |work=Sky News |archive-date=27 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527191326/https://news.sky.com/story/who-is-keir-starmers-wife-lady-victoria-starmer-12981688 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Keir Starmer attends Taylor Swift concert – and fans are quick to make puns|first=Faye|last=Brown |url=https://news.sky.com/story/keir-starmer-makes-campaign-pitstop-at-taylor-swift-eras-concert-with-stars-spotted-in-crowd-13157036 |access-date=3 July 2024 |website=Sky News |archive-date=5 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705113820/https://news.sky.com/story/keir-starmer-makes-campaign-pitstop-at-taylor-swift-eras-concert-with-stars-spotted-in-crowd-13157036 |url-status=live}}

Starmer is a pescatarian, and his wife is a vegetarian. They raised their children as vegetarians until they were 10 years old, at which point they were given the option of eating meat.{{Cite news |last=Holl-Allen |first=Genevieve |date=26 July 2023 |title=Sir Keir Starmer: I didn't let my children eat meat until they were 10 |work=The Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/26/sir-keir-starmer-labour-children-eat-meat-fish-until-age-10/ |access-date=13 September 2023 |archive-date=8 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008144358/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/26/sir-keir-starmer-labour-children-eat-meat-fish-until-age-10/ |url-status=live}} In an interview during the 2024 general election campaign, Starmer said that his biggest fear about becoming prime minister was how it may impact on his children, due to their "difficult ages" and how it would be easier if they were younger or older.{{Cite news |title=Starmer reveals 'worry' for family if he enters No 10 as Sunak says he can understand public 'frustrations' |first=Alexandra |last=Rogers |url=https://news.sky.com/story/sir-keir-starmer-says-labour-wont-reach-for-tax-lever-to-fix-public-services-13152068 |date=12 June 2024 |access-date=15 June 2024 |website=Sky News |archive-date=17 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617065611/https://news.sky.com/story/sir-keir-starmer-says-labour-wont-reach-for-tax-lever-to-fix-public-services-13152068 |url-status=live}} During the 2024 general election campaign Starmer said in an interview that he would try to avoid working after 6 p.m. on Fridays in order to observe Shabbat dinners and spend time with his family.{{cite news |last1=Quinn |first1=Ben |last2=Stacey |first2=Kiran |last3=Mason |first3=Rowena |date=2 July 2024 |title='Really desperate': Starmer hits back at Tory attacks on his work hours |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/02/tory-attacks-keir-starmer-work-hours-disgrace-labour |access-date=2 July 2024 |work=The Guardian |location=London |archive-date=5 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705112914/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/02/tory-attacks-keir-starmer-work-hours-disgrace-labour |url-status=live}}

Starmer is an atheist, and has chosen to take a "solemn affirmation" (rather than an oath) of allegiance to the monarch.{{cite web |last=Hazell |first=Will |date=10 September 2022 |title=Atheist Keir Starmer avoids reference to God in pledge of loyalty to King Charles III |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/09/10/atheist-keir-starmer-avoids-reference-god-pledge-loyalty-king/ |work=The Telegraph |access-date=21 June 2024 |archive-date=8 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508193925/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/09/10/atheist-keir-starmer-avoids-reference-god-pledge-loyalty-king/ |url-status=live}} He has said that although he does not believe in God, he recognises the power of faith to bring people together.{{cite web |date=11 April 2021 |first=Rhiannon|last=Williams|title=Politics Keir Starmer: I may not believe in God, but I do believe in faith |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/keir-starmer-i-may-not-believe-in-god-but-i-do-believe-in-faith-951607 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185019/https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/keir-starmer-i-may-not-believe-in-god-but-i-do-believe-in-faith-951607 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |access-date= |website=i}} He also accompanies his family to services at the Liberal Jewish Synagogue in north London.{{cite news |last=Gillott |first=Hannah |title=Our family treasures our Shabbat dinners, says Keir Starmer |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/our-family-treasures-our-shabbat-dinners-says-keir-starmer-hrnmdcu7 |access-date=15 July 2024 |work=The Jewish Chronicle |date=26 July 2023}}{{cite news |last=Edwardes |first=Charlotte |date=22 June 2024 |title='You asked me questions I've never asked myself': Keir Starmer's most personal interview yet |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jun/22/you-asked-me-questions-ive-never-asked-myself-keir-starmers-most-personal-interview-yet |access-date=22 June 2024 |work=The Guardian |archive-date=5 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705113609/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jun/22/you-asked-me-questions-ive-never-asked-myself-keir-starmers-most-personal-interview-yet |url-status=live}} Starmer is a keen footballer, having played for Homerton Academicals, a north London amateur team. He supports the Premier League football club Arsenal. Starmer has written a few articles for The Guardian and other newspapers including The Sunday Telegraph.{{cite web |title=Keir Starmer {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/profile/keir-starmer |access-date=12 July 2024 |website=www.theguardian.com}} From 1986 to 1987, Starmer served as the editor of Socialist Alternatives, a Trotskyist radical magazine produced by an organisation under the same name, which represented the British section of the International Revolutionary Marxist Tendency (IRMT).{{Cite news |date=18 January 2020 |title=Keir Starmer: Radical who attacked Kinnock in Marxist journal |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/radical-keir-starmer-attacked-labour-in-marxist-magazine-pfm5zxxrz |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702212934/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/radical-keir-starmer-attacked-labour-in-marxist-magazine-pfm5zxxrz |archive-date=2 July 2020 |url-status=live |newspaper=The Times}}

Since September 2024, Starmer and his family have kept a Siberian kitten, named Prince, at 10 Downing Street.{{cite news |last=Holl-Allen |first=Genevieve |date=21 September 2024 |title=Starmer unveils newest furry resident of Downing Street |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/09/21/keir-starmer-new-family-kitten-downing-street/ |access-date=23 September 2024 |work=The Telegraph |location=London}}{{cite news |last=Quinn |first=Ben |date=7 September 2024 |title=Starmer leads with compromise for new family pet – and gets 'dog-like' cat |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/sep/07/starmer-compromise-new-family-pet-siberian-kitten-dog-like-cat |access-date=23 September 2024 |work=The Guardian |location=London}}

On 26 December 2024, Starmer's brother Nick died following a cancer diagnosis. Starmer issued a statement the following day, paying tribute to him.{{cite news |last=Courea |first=Eleni |date=27 December 2024 |title=Keir Starmer pays tribute to brother who died on Boxing Day |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/dec/27/keir-starmer-pays-tribute-to-brother-who-died-on-boxing-day |access-date=27 December 2024 |work=The Guardian |location=London}}

File:Knight Commander of the Bath star, awarded to Cecil Fane de Salis (1859-1948) in 1935.jpg star}}]]

In 2002, Starmer took silk being appointed Queen's Counsel (now King's Counsel).{{Cite web |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/L-56538-1002 |title=Crown Office |website=London Gazette |access-date=24 December 2019 |archive-date=24 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224183452/https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/L-56538-1002 |url-status=live}} Having received the Bar Council's Sydney Elland Goldsmith Award in 2005[https://weareadvocate.org.uk/what-we-do/nominate/bar-pro-bono-award-past-winners.html www.weareadvocate.org.uk] for his outstanding contribution to pro bono work in challenging the death penalty in Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, and the Caribbean,{{Cite web |url=https://www.awardsintelligence.co.uk/awards/knighthood-former-director-of-public-prosecutions-keir-starmer-qc/ |title=Knighthood: former Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer QC |date=2 January 2014 |website=Awards Intelligence |access-date=25 September 2019 |archive-date=21 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021105651/https://www.awardsintelligence.co.uk/awards/knighthood-former-director-of-public-prosecutions-keir-starmer-qc/ |url-status=live}} he was elected an Honorary Fellow of St Edmund Hall, Oxford in 2022.{{cite web |url=https://www.seh.ox.ac.uk/people/keir-starmer |title=Sir Keir Starmer: Honorary Fellow |website=St Edmund Hall |access-date=30 July 2022 |archive-date=30 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220730205230/https://www.seh.ox.ac.uk/people/keir-starmer |url-status=live}} In 2025, Time magazine listed him as one of the world's 100 most influential people.{{Cite magazine |date=16 April 2025 |title=Keir Starmer: The 100 Most Influential People of 2025 |url=https://time.com/collections/100-most-influential-people-2025/7273780/keir-starmer/ |access-date=16 April 2025 |magazine=TIME |language=en}}

For "services to law and criminal justice", Starmer was knighted and appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2014 New Year Honours,{{London Gazette |issue=60728 |date=31 December 2013 |page=3 |supp=1}}{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/268845/New_Year_Honours_2014_notes_on_higher_awards.pdf |title=The New Year Honours List 2014 – Higher Awards |website=gov.uk |date=30 January 2013 |access-date=30 December 2013 |archive-date=31 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231001712/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/268845/New_Year_Honours_2014_notes_on_higher_awards.pdf |url-status=live}} enabling him to wear the Order of the Bath badge and star on appropriate occasions.[https://centralchancery.org.uk/media/3qafvnti/how-to-wear-guide.pdf www.centralchancery.org.uk]

Starmer was sworn of the Privy Council on 19 July 2017,{{cite web |url=https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/2017-07-19-List-of-Business-Part-1.pdf |title=Business transacted and Orders Approved at The Privy Council Held by The Queen at Buckingham Palace on 19th July 2017 |website=Privy Council Office |access-date=15 May 2019 |archive-date=30 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830195728/https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/2017-07-19-List-of-Business-Part-1.pdf |url-status=live}} according him the honorific prefix of "the Right Honourable".{{cite web |title=Privy Council history |url=https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/privy-council/history/ |website=Privy Council Office |access-date=3 January 2021 |archive-date=7 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107200934/https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/privy-council/history/ |url-status=live}}

• Electoral history of Sir Keir Starmer

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |last=Baldwin |first=Tom |year=2024 |author-link=Tom Baldwin (journalist) |title=Keir Starmer: The Biography |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers |isbn=978-0008661021}}
• {{cite book |last=Eagleton |first=Oliver |year=2022 |title=The Starmer Project: A Journey to the Right |title-link=The Starmer Project |edition=paperback |publisher=Verso Books |isbn=978-1-83976-464-6}}

{{Sister project links|d=Q6383803|c=Category:Keir Starmer|q=Keir Starmer|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|s=no|species=no}}

• {{official website|https://keirstarmer.com}}
• {{Twitter|name=Keir Starmer|id=Keir_Starmer}}
• {{UK MP links|parliament=keir-starmer/4514|publicwhip=Keir_Starmer|theywork=keir_starmer|hansard=4514}}
• {{C-SPAN|100494}}

{{portal bar|Biography|Economics|History|United Kingdom}}

{{S-start}}

{{S-legal}}

{{S-bef

| before = Ken Macdonald

}}

{{S-ttl

| title = Director of Public Prosecutions

| years = 2008–2013

}}

{{S-aft

| after = Alison Saunders

}}

{{s-break}}

{{S-par|uk}}

{{S-bef

| before = Frank Dobson

}}

{{S-ttl

| title = Member of Parliament
for Holborn and St Pancras

| years = 2015–present

}}

{{S-inc}}

{{s-break}}

{{S-off}}

{{S-bef

| before = Emily Thornberry

}}

{{S-ttl

| title = Shadow Secretary of State
for Exiting the European Union

| years = 2016–2020

}}

{{S-non

| reason = Office abolished

}}

{{s-break}}

{{S-bef

| before = Jeremy Corbyn

}}

{{S-ttl

| title = Leader of the Opposition

| years = 2020–2024

{{s-aft

| after = Rishi Sunak

}}

}}

{{s-break}}

{{s-bef|rows=3

|before=Rishi Sunak

}}

{{s-ttl|title=Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

|years=2024–present}}

{{s-inc|rows=3}}

{{s-break}}

{{s-ttl

|title=Minister for the Civil Service

|years=2024–present}}

{{s-break}}

{{s-ttl|title=First Lord of the Treasury

|years=2024–present}}

{{s-break}}

{{S-ppo}}

{{S-bef

| before = Jeremy Corbyn

}}

{{S-ttl

| title = Leader of the Labour Party

| years = 2020–present

}}

{{S-inc}}

{{s-prec|ew}}

{{s-bef|before=Stephen Cottrell|as=Archbishop of York}}

{{s-ttl|title=Gentlemen
{{small|as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom}}}}

{{s-aft|after=Lindsay Hoyle|as=Speaker of the House of Commons}}

{{s-prec|sc}}

{{s-bef|before=Shaw Paterson|as=Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland}}

{{s-ttl|title=Gentlemen
{{small|as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom}}}}

{{s-aft|after=John Swinney|as=First Minister of Scotland}}

{{s-prec|ni}}

{{s-bef|before=Sam Mawhinney|as=Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland}}

{{s-ttl|title=Gentlemen
{{small|as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom}}}}

{{s-aft|after=Commonwealth Prime Ministers|as=}}

{{S-end}}

{{Keir Starmer}}

{{Navboxes

|list1=

{{Prime ministers of the United Kingdom}}

{{Great Offices of State}}

{{Ministers at HM Treasury}}

{{Current G7 Leaders}}

{{Current G20 Leaders}}

{{Current NATO leaders}}

{{Current heads of government in the UK and dependencies}}

{{Commonwealth heads of government}}

{{Current heads of government}}

{{Labour Party Leader}}

{{Leaders of political parties in the United Kingdom}}

{{Leaders of the Opposition UK}}

{{Starmer Cabinet}}

{{Labour Party UK MPs}}

{{Labour Party leadership election, 2020}}

{{Corbyn Shadow Cabinet}}

{{UK Labour Party}}

}}

{{Portal bar|Biography|Law|Socialism|United Kingdom}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Starmer, Keir}}

Category:1962 births

Category:Living people

Category:People educated at Reigate Grammar School

Category:Alumni of the University of Leeds

Category:Alumni of St Edmund Hall, Oxford

Category:Members of the Middle Temple

Category:20th-century English lawyers

Category:21st-century English lawyers

Category:21st-century King's Counsel

Category:21st-century prime ministers of the United Kingdom

Category:21st-century atheists

Category:Directors of Public Prosecutions (England and Wales)

Category:English anti–Iraq War activists

Category:British atheists

Category:English King's Counsel

Category:English legal writers

Category:British socialists

Category:British Zionists

Category:Centrism in the United Kingdom

Category:Human rights lawyers

Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath

Category:Labour Friends of Israel

Category:Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East

Category:Labour Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies

Category:Labour Party prime ministers of the United Kingdom

Category:Lawyers awarded knighthoods

Category:Lawyers from London

Category:Lawyers from Surrey

Category:Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom

Category:People from Kentish Town

Category:People from Oxted

Category:People from Southwark

Category:Politicians from the London Borough of Southwark

Category:Politicians from Surrey

Category:UK MPs 2015–2017

Category:UK MPs 2017–2019

Category:UK MPs 2019–2024

Category:UK MPs 2024–present

Category:Writers from the London Borough of Southwark

Category:Writers from Surrey