When Keir Starmer was elected to lead Britain’s Labour Party in 2020, just after the party’s worst general election defeat in 85 years, he made it his mission to make the party electable again. Four years later, after 14 years of Conservative-led governments, Starmer is poised to take Britain’s top job.
With nearly all results in, Labour has secured a remarkable 411 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons. The Conservatives hold only 120, marking a massive loss of support for the party that swept the last election in 2019.
Current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conceded, acknowledging the “sobering verdict” from voters, as the Conservative Party’s long-time parliamentary majority was decimated.
Starmer, 61, has faced criticism for a perceived lack of charisma, but his methodical mission to steer Labour back to the center of British politics and broaden its voter appeal has paid off. Labour also capitalized on years of economic pain and political chaos under the Conservatives.
Starmer will take on the significant task of restoring trust in politicians, addressing child poverty, and managing the rise of far-right, anti-immigrant sentiments.
Final results from Thursday’s voting are still being published, but Starmer is set to be the next British prime minister. Sunak confirmed he would meet with King Charles III to formally offer his resignation, expressing his apologies to the British people and taking responsibility for his party’s loss.
Starmer will then meet the king, who will invite him to form a new government. Starmer will give a speech outside Downing Street and begin the transition by receiving briefings from key civil service and intelligence officials, selecting his new cabinet, and engaging with world leaders.
Keir Starmer, a former lawyer knighted for his services to criminal justice, has projected a managerial style amid years of political chaos. He grew up in a small town in Surrey, with his mother working for the National Health Service and his father as a toolmaker. His mother suffered from Still’s disease, and both parents passed away shortly after he was elected to Parliament in 2015.
Starmer was the first in his family to attend university and later became head of public prosecutions in 2008. Despite his background, he has often been seen as a relatively boring politician, a perception he has sometimes embraced.
Throughout his tenure as Labour leader, Starmer has moved the party toward the center, distancing it from the socialist left-wing faction that led under previous leader Jeremy Corbyn. He suspended Corbyn following controversial comments on antisemitism. Starmer’s public mantra has been “country before party.”
His move toward centrism has drawn criticism from left-leaning members of his party and others. He has backtracked on pledges such as increasing income tax, scrapping university tuition fees, and nationalizing public services. His U-turn on a green investment pledge and his stance on alleged Israeli war crimes have also been contentious.
Starmer’s plans for Britain include addressing tax avoidance, reducing NHS patient waiting lists, and recruiting more teachers and police officers. He also aims to negotiate a better deal with the European Union post-Brexit.
Regarding U.S.-U.K. relations, Starmer has spoken highly of President Biden’s focus on job creation and domestic industry investment. Should Biden remain president, he is expected to have a close ally in Starmer. However, relations might be less friendly if former President Donald Trump wins in November.
Regardless of the U.S. president, Starmer emphasizes the importance of the special relationship between the U.K. and the U.S., stating it transcends individual leaders.