During the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, Starmer belonged to the party's soft left, and had also agreed with his politics being "red-green". During the 1980s and 1990s, Starmer also wrote for Socialist Alternatives and Socialist Lawyer; by the 2020s, he at times upheld and at other times rejected the socialist label. Starmer succeeded Corbyn by winning the 2020 leadership election on a left-wing platform, pledging to uphold many of his predecessor's economic policies whilst working to end the issue of antisemitism within the party. As opposition leader, Starmer eventually moved Labour toward the political centre. Some commentators described Starmer as exhibiting an authoritarian approach, and critics on the Labour left contended of being purged.
Despite the lack of any consensus about the character and even existence of Starmer's ideology, it has acquired a neologism, Starmerism, and his supporters have been called Starmerites. Prior to his general election win, Starmer had been widely compared to Tony Blair's leadership and New Labour, having taken the party closer to the centre-ground; observes also noted differences from Blair and New Labour. Starmer had cited the many issues affecting the country as for why he had to abandon many of the more left-wing pledges that he had made in 2020.
Starmerism
Views of Keir Starmer's political philosophy are diverse. Some commentators, judging that Starmer has led his party back to the centre ground to try to improve its electability, have likened what he has accomplished in this regard to Tony Blair's development of New Labour.[1] Others interpret his changes of policy as evidence that he has no clearly defined philosophy at all, save a rejection of populism.[2][3][4] 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".[1] Figures including Starmer's former boss, the barrister Geoffrey Robertson,[5] as well as his former advisor Simon Fletcher,[6] and the journalist and broadcaster Peter Oborne,[7] have described Starmer as exhibiting an authoritarian approach.[8] Despite the lack of any consensus about the character and even existence of Starmer's ideology, it has acquired a neologism, Starmerism, and his supporters have been called Starmerites.[9][10]
In April 2023, Starmer gave an interview to The Economist on defining Starmerism.[10][11] In this interview, two main strands of Starmerism were identified.[11] The first strand focused on a critique of the British state for being too ineffective and overcentralised. 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.[11] In June 2023, Starmer gave an interview to Time where he was asked to define Starmerism. He said: "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."[12]
Relationship to socialism
Starmer wrote articles for the magazines Socialist Alternatives and Socialist Lawyer as a young man in the 1980s and 1990s.[13] In July 1986, Starmer wrote in the first issue of Socialist Alternatives that trade unions should have had control over the "industry and community".[13] He wrote in Socialist Lawyer that "Karl Marx was, of course, right" in saying it was pointless to believe a change of society could only be achieved by arguing about fundamental rights.[13] Gavin Millar, a former legal colleague of Starmer, has described his politics as "red-green", a characterisation Starmer has agreed with.[14] In a January 2020 interview, Starmer described himself as a socialist,[15] and stated in an opinion piece published by The Guardian the same month that his advocacy of socialism is motivated by "a burning desire to tackle inequality and injustice".[16]
In an interview with the i's Francis Elliott in December 2021, Starmer refused to characterise himself as a socialist, asking "What does that mean?" He added: "The Labour Party is a party that believes that we get the best from each other when we come together, collectively, and ensure that you know, we give people both opportunity and support as they needed."[17] In 2023, Starmer removed the ten socialism-based pledges that he had made in the 2020 party leadership contest from his website, after having abandoned or rolled back on many of these, citing the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic situation as reasons for having to "adapt".[18][19] In the run-up to the 2024 general election, Starmer told the BBC: "I would describe myself as a socialist. I describe myself as a progressive. I'd describe myself as somebody who always puts the country first and party second."[20]
Domestic issues
Reform of public institutions
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 has described 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 public consultation. He criticised the Conservative Party for handing peerages to "cronies and donors".[21]
Upon becoming leader of the Labour Party, Starmer tasked former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown with recommending British constitutional reforms.[22] The report was published in 2022 and was endorsed and promoted by Starmer, and recommended the abolition of the House of Lords, extending greater powers to local councils and mayors, and deeper devolution to the countries of the UK.[23] Labour's 2024 election manifesto Change 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.[24]
Opposing Scottish independence and a second referendum on the subject, the Labour Party under Starmer's leadership has set up a constitutional convention to address what he describes as a belief among people across the UK that "decisions about me should be taken closer to me".[31][32] Starmer is against the reunification of Ireland, having stated that he would be "very much on the side of Unionists" if there were to be a border poll.[33]
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.[34] In 2021, Starmer and then Shadow ChancellorRachel Reeves pledged that a Labour government would invest an extra £28 billion a year in green industries; in June 2023 this was changed to £28 billion per year by the middle of their first term of government.[35]
Since 2022, Reeves has adhered to "modern supply-side economics", an economic policy which focuses on infrastructure, education and labour supply by rejecting tax cuts and deregulation.[36][37] In 2023, Reeves coined the term "securonomics" to refer to her version of this economic policy. On taking office as Chancellor of the Exchequer in 2024, Reeves stated that since there is "not a huge amount of money" her focus will be on "unlocking" private-sector investment, as she believes "private-sector investment is the lifeblood of a successful economy."[38][39][40]
Immigration
In June 2024, Starmer pledged to reduce record high legal immigration to the UK, saying, "Read my lips – I will bring immigration numbers down. If you trust me with the keys to No 10, I will make you this promise: I will control our borders and make sure British businesses are helped to hire Brits first."[41] Starmer aims to reduce net migration by improving training and skills for British workers and establishing Skills England.[42]
Education
Starmer vowed in 2021 and 2022 to strip independent schools of their VAT-exempt charitable status, a move opposed by the Independent Schools Council.[43][44][45] During the 2020 Labour leadership election, Starmer pledged to scrap university tuition fees; he dropped this pledge in May 2023, citing a "different financial situation" following Liz Truss' premiership. Starmer instead said that he aimed to reform the tuition fee system, which he said was unfair to both students and universities.[46] He is supportive of faith schools, and said he would not change policy on faith schools.[47] He has ruled out extending free school meals to all primary school pupils in England,[48] instead pledging to extend breakfast clubs including free breakfasts for every primary school in England.[49]
Public ownership over national infrastructure
Starmer's position on public ownership over national infrastructure has changed over time. In the 2020 Labour Party leadership election, Starmer ran on a pledge to renationalise rail, mail, water, and energy back into common ownership; he dropped this pledge in July 2022 and said he would take a "pragmatic approach" to public ownership.[50][51] As of September 2023, he remained committed to renationalising the railways and local bus services, the creation of a publicly owned energy company, and stricter regulation of water companies.[52][53][54][55] Starmer favours partnership between government and business, having said: "A political party without a clear plan for making sure businesses are successful and growing ... which doesn't want them to do well and make a profit ... has no hope of being a successful government."[56]
Child poverty
Starmer has refused to scrap the benefit cap introduced by the Cameron–Clegg coalition, citing financial reasons.[57][58][59] He has, however, 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.[60]
LGBT+ and transgender rights
In a 3 July 2024 statement to PinkNews ahead of the 2024 election, Starmer affirmed his party's support of LGBT+ rights, including strengthening protections against hate crimes targeting members of the LGBT community, "modernizing" the "intrusive and outdated" gender recognition framework, and a proposed, "trans-inclusive" ban on conversion therapy.[61]
On the topic of transgender rights, in an interview with The Times, Starmer supported the view that transgender women could be refused entry to women-only spaces, as set out in existing Equality Act provisions.[62] He has also stated that the party would implement the recommendations of the Cass Review "in full";[61] these recommendations have faced criticism from UK LGBT+ rights charities such as Stonewall and Mermaids.[63] Starmer has also ruled out allowing transgender people to self-ID.[64] He has said he will continue the block on the Gender Recognition Reform Bill in Scotland.[65]
In the wake of the Murder of Sarah Everard in March 2021, Starmer called for longer sentences for rape and sexual violence.[70] Starmer said he wants crime reduced, maintaining that "too many people do not feel safe in their streets".[71] 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' which would be "tasked with coming up with reforms to reverse the decline in the number of offences being solved".[72] 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.[73] Starmer said the New Labour government was right to be "tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime".[74][75]
Following the 2024 Southport stabbing, Starmer described the incident as horrendous and shocking and thanked emergency services for their swift response.[76] He later wrote amid the ongoing riots across the country 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.[77] 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.[78] On 4 August, Starmer said that rioters "will feel the full force of the law" and told them "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".[79][80] Starmer later called an emergency response meeting of Cobra.[81] After the Cobra meeting he announced the establishment of a "standing army" of specialist police officers to address the ongoing violence, and help bring it to an end.[82]
Comments on Margaret Thatcher
In a Sunday Telegraph article he wrote in December 2023, Starmer praised Margaret Thatcher for having "sought to drag Britain out of its stupor",[83][84] saying Thatcher had "set loose our natural entrepreneurialism" during her time as prime minister, and cited Thatcher, 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".[85][86] Starmer defended his remarks on Thatcher by saying: "What I was doing was distinguishing between particularly post-war leaders – those leaders, those prime ministers – who had a driving sense of purpose, ambition, a plan to deliver and those that drifted. ... So I was giving Margaret Thatcher as an example of the sort of leader who had that mission and plan. That's obviously different to saying I agree with everything that she did."[87]
Starmer has described the Labour Party as "deeply patriotic" and credits its most successful leaders, Clement Attlee, Harold Wilson, and Tony Blair, for policies "rooted in the everyday concerns of working people".[71] Starmer advocates a government based on "security, prosperity and respect". In a speech on 13 May 2023, Starmer stated:
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.
Following past accusations of antisemitism in the party during Corbyn's tenure, Starmer pledged to end antisemitism in the party during his acceptance speech, saying "Anti-semitism has been a stain on our party. I have seen the grief that it's brought to so many Jewish communities. On behalf of the Labour Party, I am sorry. And I will tear out this poison by its roots and judge success by the return of Jewish members and those who felt that they could no longer support us."[89][90] In October 2020, following the release of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)'s report into antisemitism in the party, Starmer accepted its findings in full and apologised to Jews on behalf of the party.[91][92] Later that day, Corbyn stated that "the scale of the problem was also dramatically overstated for political reasons".[93] He was later suspended over his response to the report.[93] In February 2023, Starmer's antisemitism reforms resulted in the party no longer being monitored by the EHRC.[94] After having previously resigned from the party in February 2019 citing the handling of antisemitism allegations in the party, former Labour MP Luciana Berger rejoined in February 2023.[95] Berger accepted an apology from Starmer, adding that the party had "turned a significant corner".[95]
On 7 June 2023, Starmer called for Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters' gigs in the UK to be axed amid claims Waters was sharing antisemitic views at his concerts, saying: "The Labour Party stands with the Jewish community and fully condemns Roger Waters. Many people will think of Roger Waters as famous for being a member of one of the most important bands in history, but he is now more synonymous with spreading deeply troubling antisemitism and that is why I believe this show should not be allowed to go ahead." In response, Waters said: "The depiction of an unhinged fascist demagogue has been a feature of my shows since Pink Floyd's The Wall in 1980. I have spent my entire life speaking out against authoritarianism and oppression wherever I see it."[96]
Assisted dying
Starmer is a longtime supporter of the campaign for assisted dying or doctor-assisted voluntary euthanasia in the UK. As Director of Public Prosecutions in 2014, he published guidance on when not to prosecute cases where compassion was the sole motivator in assisting a relative to access assisted dying overseas, following the Supreme Court Martin case.[97] In 2015, he intervened and voted in support of Rob Marris's Private Member's Bill on assisted dying.[98]
On 13 March 2024, Starmer pledged to give MPs a vote on assisted suicide if Labour won the 2024 general election, which they did.[99] He phoned pro-assisted suicide campaigner Esther Rantzen and said to her: "I'm personally in favour of changing the law. I think we need to make time. We will make the commitment. Esther, I can give you that commitment right now... For people who are going through this or are likely to go through it in the next few months or years, this matters hugely and delay just prolongs the agony."[99]
In September 2024, Kim Leadbeater, Labour MP for Spen Valley, was drawn first in the ballot for private members' bills. She announced on 3 October 2024 that she would introduce a bill on assisted dying, and on 16 October 2024, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was introduced to the House of Commons. The full text of the bill (as presented for second reading) was published on 11 November 2024. Starmer acknowledged the vote for Leadbeater's bill as being "very important".[100] Additionally, Starmer noted parliament's future intentions to strengthen NHS care for all needs, "including end-of-life care."[101]
Starmer marched and authored legal opinions against the Iraq War, stating in 2015 that he believed that the war was "not lawful under international law because there was no UN resolution expressly authorising it."[111][14] Starmer has advocated an end to "illegal wars" and a review of UK arms exports.[25] During his leadership campaign, Starmer pledged to create a Prevention of Military Intervention Act, which would only permit lawful military action with the support of the House of Commons.[112][113]
In 2021, he opposed the withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan, saying: "There is a real risk that international terrorism will take hold again in Afghanistan, so we can't walk away and undermine the legacy of the last 20 years."[114]
Starmer with Chinese President Xi Jinping on 18 November 2024
Starmer called for sanctions against Chinese officials who have been involved in human rights abuses.[115] In July 2024, Starmer pledged to take a tougher approach to China on human rights and security issues, including China's support for Russia during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[116] 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.[117] Starmer's foreign policy stance towards China appears to be one of cautious engagement, yet recent events raise questions about his effectiveness in standing up to Beijing. During a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit, British journalists were forcibly removed by Chinese officials as Starmer addressed human rights issues. This incident not only highlights the strained relations between the UK and China but also suggests a troubling vulnerability in Starmer's approach. His inability to protect the integrity of the press in such a critical diplomatic setting raises concerns about his strength and resolve in confronting China's authoritarian practices. The incident casts a shadow over his potential to navigate the complexities of UK-China relations effectively, indicating a perceived weakness in his foreign policy stance.[118]
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Germany and France to reset post-Brexit relations with the EU. He discussed a proposed UK-Germany treaty on defence and energy and met with French President Macron on 29 August 2024,to enhance cooperation on tackling illegal migration.[133]
During the US's transition from the first presidency of Donald Trump to that of Joe Biden in January 2021, Starmer said: "I'm anti-Trump but I'm pro-American. And I'm incredibly optimistic about the new relationship we can build with President Biden." He argued that "Britain is at its strongest" when it is "the bridge between the US and the rest of Europe."[32]
In July 2024, Starmer and Biden discussed their shared commitment to the Special Relationship and mutual support of Ukraine. Biden also congratulated Starmer on "a hell of a victory".[139] Starmer presented Biden with an Arsenal shirt during their introductory meeting, while emphasising the importance of the US-UK Special Relationship.[140]
Following the attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania, Starmer tweeted "Political violence in any form has no place in our societies" and offered Donald Trump and his family his best wishes.[141] He later deflected allegations from the Trump campaign that Labour had undertaken unlawful electoral interference by providing support to Kamala Harris' campaign, and had a meeting with Trump during the 79th session of the UN general assembly in New York. In November 2024, Starmer offered his congratulations to Trump on a phone call after he won the 2024 United States presidential election, along with other world leaders, saying "I look forward to working with you in the years ahead. I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come."[142] Starmer also congratulated Trump on his victory in his first Prime Minister's Questions since the election result, where his previous criticism of Trump (stating in 2016 that he would not want to have Trump "round for dinner"), along with criticism made by David Lammy, was brought up by opposition leaders Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage.[143]
During the prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Starmer met with Secretary General of NATOJens Stoltenberg and said in an interview with the BBC that Corbyn was "wrong" to be a critic of NATO and that the Labour Party's commitment to NATO was "unshakeable"; he added that "stand united in the UK ... Whatever challenges we have with the government, when it comes to Russian aggression we stand together."[126]
Starmer called for "widespread and hard-hitting" economic sanctions against Russia.[144] He also criticised the Stop the War Coalition in an op-ed for The Guardian, writing that the group's members were "not benign voices for peace" but rather "[a]t best they are naive, at worst they actively give succour to authoritarian leaders" such as Russian President Vladimir Putin "who directly threaten democracies."[145]
At the 2024 NATO summit, Starmer signaled that Ukraine could use Britain's Storm Shadow missile donations to strike military targets inside Russia.[151] In a meeting with Zelensky, Starmer called for an "irreversible" membership strategy for Ukraine to joinNATO.[152] In October 2024, Starmer described the UK's support to Ukraine as "ironclad".
In October 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel that devolved into a war and a growing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Starmer expressed support for Israel, condemned Hamas terrorism, and said, "This action by Hamas does nothing for Palestinians. And Israel must always have the right to defend her people."[160][161] In an interview with LBC on 11 October 2023, Starmer was asked whether it would be appropriate for Israel to totally cut off power and water supplies to the Gaza Strip, with Starmer replying that "I think that Israel does have that right" and that "obviously everything should be done within international law".[162][163] On 20 October, Starmer said that he only meant that Israel had the right to defend itself.[163][164] Starmer had said that a ceasefire would only benefit Hamas for future attacks, instead calling for a humanitarian pause to allow aid to reach Gaza.[165]
In December 2023, Starmer followed Rishi Sunak in changing his stance by calling for a "sustainable ceasefire" in relation to Gaza, which also came after David Cameron's same change in position. Starmer stated his support for a "two-stage" "two-state solution".[166][167][168] On 18 February 2024, Starmer called for a "ceasefire that lasts" and said it must "happen now", having previously declined to call for one.[169][170][171] In July 2024, Starmer told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the UK would continue its "vital cooperation to deter malign threats" with Israel.[172] Under Starmer's premiership licences of some British arms sales to Israel were suspended in September 2024 because of a "clear risk" the weapons could be used in breach of international law. 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.[173] In November 2024, Starmer refused to call Israel's actions in Gaza "genocide".[174]
^"Keir Starmer, a serious Labour man". The Economist. 27 February 2020. ISSN0013-0613. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023. 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.
^Stacey, Kiran (18 January 2024). "Unions tell Starmer of members' anger over Gaza ceasefire position". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 March 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024. Union leaders have told Keir Starmer his position on Gaza risks alienating millions of Britons, telling the Labour leader their members are increasingly angry about his refusal to call for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East.
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