Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party in the UK, is set to become the country’s new Prime Minister after winning a landslide victory in the general election. He has been a relatively unknown figure outside the UK, despite his party’s dominance in the polls over the past few years. Starmer entered politics in 2015 and has served in various positions within the Labour Party, including shadow immigration minister and shadow Brexit secretary. After former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s resignation, Starmer won the internal leadership contest in April 2020 with 56% of the vote.
Prior to his political career, Starmer was a human rights lawyer and prosecutor, earning a knighthood in 2014 for his services to law and criminal justice. His opponents have used his knighthood to label him as an elite figure. Starmer opposed Brexit in the 2016 referendum but stated he would not seek to rejoin the EU if he became Prime Minister. He shifted the Labour Party towards the center after becoming leader, moving away from many left-wing policies and distancing himself from Corbyn’s more radical positions.
Starmer, who was born in London and grew up in Surrey, was the first member of his family to attend college. He has emphasized his humble roots during the campaign, highlighting his parents’ working-class backgrounds. Starmer has a law degree from Leeds University and a postgraduate degree from Oxford University. He is married to Victoria Starmer, who works for the National Health Service, and they have two teenage children. Starmer is a big soccer fan and a lifelong supporter of Arsenal.
Despite speculation that Starmer was the inspiration behind Mark Darcy in “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” the author of the books has denied the suggestion. Starmer has faced criticism for his handling of various issues, including the party’s response to allegations of antisemitism and his stance on the Gaza conflict. He suspended Corbyn from the party after his comments downplaying antisemitism within Labour, and he initially defended Israel’s military operation in Gaza before calling for a ceasefire. Starmer has tried to maintain a balance between different factions within the party while attempting to appeal to a broader electoral base.
As the incoming Prime Minister, Starmer will face numerous challenges, including leading the country through the aftermath of Brexit and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. His leadership style and policy decisions will be closely scrutinized as he seeks to rebuild trust in the Labour Party and deliver on his promises of a new era of hope and confidence for the UK.
