UK's Man of the Moment: Keir Starmer, Labour Party Chief

Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer set to be sworn in as new Prime Minister of UK.

Rebuilding After 2019 Defeat

By the time you read this, Keir Starmer will have led his party to the biggest electoral victory in the UK in recent memory. Keir Starmer became leader of the Labour Party in April 2020, succeeding Jeremy Corbyn after Labour's worst electoral defeat since 1935 in the 2019 general election. The party was in disarray—financially drained, facing allegations of antisemitism, and with the hard-left faction still deeply entrenched.

Starmer immediately set about the hard work of rebuilding Labour into a credible opposition and potential party of government. He aimed to complete this transformation on a much faster five-year timeline compared to the ten years many expected it to take.

Rooting Out Antisemitism

One of Starmer's first priorities was eliminating the antisemitism that had plagued Labour under Corbyn. He overhauled the party's complaints and disciplinary process and took a hard line in expelling members associated with antisemitism. By February 2023, Starmer's reforms resulted in Labour no longer being monitored by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Starmer won praise for his resolute stand against antisemitism and for helping to restore Labour's relationship with the Jewish community.

Shifting to the Centre

Ideologically, Starmer decisively shifted Labour away from the far-left policies of the Corbyn era and towards the centre ground. He dropped some of Corbyn's more controversial stances and moderated Labour's platform to focus on stability and pragmatic solutions rather than radical change.

While Starmer still supported progressive policies like common ownership of public utilities, he emphasised fiscal responsibility, explicitly promising that Labour would not borrow more to fund public spending. This approach aimed to reassure voters that Labour could be trusted on the economy.

Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer set to be sworn in as new Prime Minister of UK.

Imposing Discipline

Starmer brought a new culture of discipline and professionalism to Labour, sidelining far-left factions and rebellious MPs. He reshuffled his Shadow Cabinet several times to install competent moderates in key roles and surround himself with allies. This allowed Starmer to present Labour as a united and competent alternative government focused on the national interest rather than ideological purity or internal squabbling. As he told party members in 2022: "I grew up working class. I've been fighting all my life. And I won't stop now."

Broadening Labour's Appeal

By steering Labour to the centre and cracking down on toxic elements, Starmer broadened the party's electoral appeal, making it palatable again to voters who had abandoned it under Corbyn. He targeted winning back traditional Labour heartlands while also courting disillusioned Conservatives.

Starmer's own background as the son of a toolmaker and nurse, along with his distinguished pre-politics career as a human rights lawyer and Director of Public Prosecutions, helped counter the Tory caricature of him as an out-of-touch "lefty London lawyer."

Capitalising on Conservative Chaos

While Starmer was credited with making Labour electable again, the party also benefited hugely from the implosion of the Conservatives. A string of scandals and crises, from "partygate" to Liz Truss's disastrous mini-budget, made the Tories appear incompetent and exhausted after 14 years in power.

Starmer seized on this, presenting Labour as the only party capable of cleaning up the Conservatives' mess and delivering the change Britain needed. His personal approval ratings consistently outpaced those of Tory leaders Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak.

A Historic Victory

In the end, Starmer's transformation of Labour, combined with the Conservatives' unpopularity, delivered a thumping victory in the 2024 election, with the party projected to win 410 seats. It marked Labour's return to power after 14 years and its best result since the Tony Blair landslide of 1997. Starmer hailed it as a mandate for "change, stability, and growth" and promised to govern in the interests of the entire nation.

The historic win was a personal triumph for Starmer, vindicating his leadership and the political journey he had taken Labour on since the dark days of 2019. Against the odds, he had made Labour winners again—now the hard work of governing would begin.

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