Starmer has steered Britain’s Labour Party to an overwhelming election victory and is set to become prime minister on Friday. He will be the first leader from the center-left party to win a U.K. national election since Tony Blair, who secured three consecutive victories starting in 1997.
This victory marks another transformation for Starmer, who transitioned from a human rights lawyer to a determined prosecutor, and from a youthful radical to a pragmatic middle-aged politician. Similar to Blair’s “New Labour” reformation in the 1990s, the 61-year-old Starmer led Labour to a decisive win over Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party by moving the party towards the political center.
Starmer’s campaign promised change while ensuring stability, pledging to bring order to public life and provide Britain with “the sunlight of hope” following 14 years of Conservative rule.
“People see Starmer as someone solid and competent in his professional life,” said Douglas Beattie, author of How Labour Wins (and Why it Loses). “Voters are looking for caution and stability.”
A former chief prosecutor for England and Wales, Starmer has been portrayed by Conservative opponents as a “lefty London lawyer.” Knighted for his leadership of the Crown Prosecution Service, his title, Sir Keir Starmer, is often used by critics to depict him as elitist and disconnected.
Starmer emphasizes his modest upbringing and relatable interests. He enjoys soccer, still plays on weekends, and loves watching Arsenal over a beer at his local pub. He and his wife Victoria, who works in occupational health, have two teenage children whom they keep out of the public eye. During the campaign, he was notably reticent about sharing personal details, even avoiding questions about his dreams or favorite novels.
When he did share personal insights, such as his intention to spend Friday evenings with his family for Shabbat dinners, the Conservatives accused him of planning to be a part-time prime minister.
Born in 1963, Starmer is the son of a toolmaker and a nurse who named him after Keir Hardie, the Labour Party’s first leader. Raised in a financially struggling household outside London, he experienced “hard times,” he said in a speech launching his campaign. He shared how rising costs once made his family fearful of receiving bills they couldn’t afford.
His mother’s battle with a chronic illness, Still’s disease, deeply influenced his support for the National Health Service. Starmer was the first in his family to attend college, studying law at Leeds University and Oxford. As a lawyer, he often took on civil liberties cases, notably defending the “McLibel Two,” activists sued by McDonald’s.
Switching to head the Crown Prosecution Service in 2008 surprised some colleagues, but he earned a reputation as a diligent director of public prosecutions during his five-year tenure.
Starmer entered politics in his 50s, becoming a Member of Parliament in 2015. He often clashed with then-party leader Jeremy Corbyn but served as Labour’s Brexit spokesman under him.
Despite facing criticism for supporting Corbyn, Starmer argued that party leaders are temporary while political parties endure. After Corbyn led Labour to significant losses in 2017 and 2019, Labour chose Starmer to lead its recovery.
His leadership coincided with a tumultuous period, including the COVID-19 pandemic, Brexit, the economic impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the chaotic 49-day term of Prime Minister Liz Truss in 2022.
Voters, worn down by a cost-of-living crisis and political instability, saw Starmer as a stabilizing force. He instilled discipline in the historically fractious party, abandoned some of Corbyn’s policies, and apologized for the antisemitism that had spread under Corbyn’s leadership.
Starmer pledged a “culture change” in Labour, prioritizing the country over the party. He assured voters that a Labour government could address the housing crisis and improve public services without increasing taxes or public debt.
“While Keir Starmer may not excite everyone, he has positioned himself as the competent adult in the room who can restore proper governance,” said Lise Butler, senior lecturer in modern history at City University of London.
Starmer faces pressure to deliver swiftly. Some supporters are already disappointed by his decision to reduce spending on green technology, insisting a Labour government will not borrow more for public spending.
Though a staunch opponent of Brexit, Starmer now says a Labour government will not seek to reverse it, further disappointing some party members.
“Critics on the left accuse him of betraying socialist principles, while those on the right accuse him of inconsistency,” said Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London. “But if that’s what it takes to win, it speaks to Starmer’s character—he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get into government.”
Associated Press writer Danica Kirka contributed to this story.