Premiership of Keir Starmer

This article is about Keir Starmer's tenure as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. For the people in his government, see Starmer ministry.

Official portrait, 2024
Premiership of Keir Starmer 5 July 2024 – present
Monarch	Charles III
Cabinet	Starmer ministry
Party	Labour
Election	2024
Seat	10 Downing Street

Keir Starmer's tenure as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom began on 5 July 2024 when he accepted an invitation from King Charles III to form a government, succeeding Rishi Sunak of the Conservative Party, after the Labour Party had won the 2024 general election. As prime minister, Starmer is serving concurrently as First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for the Union and Leader of the Labour Party.

Domestically, Starmer has said he will focus on economic growth, planning system reforms, infrastructure, energy, healthcare, education, childcare, and strengthening workers' rights, all of which were outlined in the Labour Party's 2024 election manifesto. He established the Border Security Command to replace the Rwanda asylum plan, to tackle smuggling gangs which facilitate illegal migrant crossings over the English Channel. Within his first month in office, Starmer faced his first major domestic event, the ongoing riots across the country following the Southport stabbing, which Starmer responded to by announcing the establishment of a national violent disorder programme to facilitate greater cooperation between police forces when dealing with violent disorder.

On foreign policy, Starmer has supported Ukraine in its war against Russia and Israel in its war against Hamas, but has also called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. At the 2024 NATO summit, Starmer signaled that Ukraine could use Britain's Storm Shadow missile donations to strike military targets inside Russia, and in a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Starmer called for an "irreversible" membership strategy for Ukraine to join NATO. Starmer told Benjamin Netanyahu later that month that the UK would continue cooperation to deter malign threats with Israel.

Labour leadership bid

Main article: 2020 Labour Party leadership election (UK)

On 4 January 2020, Keir Starmer announced his candidacy for the Labour Party leadership election. By 8 January, it was reported that he had gained enough nominations from Labour MPs and MEPs to get onto the ballot paper, and that the trade union Unison was backing him. Unison, with 1.3 million members, said Starmer was the best placed candidate to unite the party and regain public trust. He also gained support from former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

During the leadership election, Starmer ran a left-wing platform. He positioned himself in opposition to austerity, stating that the outgoing leader Jeremy Corbyn was "right" to position Labour as the "party of anti-austerity". He indicated he would continue with the Labour policy of scrapping tuition fees as well as pledging "common ownership" of rail, mail, energy and water companies and called for ending outsourcing in the NHS, local governments and the justice system. Starmer was announced as the winner of the leadership contest on 4 April 2020, defeating rivals Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy, with 56.2% of the vote in the first round. As opposition leader, contrary to his leadership campaign, he moved the party toward the political centre, and also emphasised the project of eliminating antisemitism within the party. Starmer's leadership has been widely compared to Tony Blair's leadership and New Labour, having taken the party rightward to gain perceived electability. In 2023, Starmer set out five missions for his government, targeting issues such as economic growth, health, clean energy, crime and education.

On 22 May 2024, Rishi Sunak unexpectedly announced that a snap general election would be held on 4 July 2024. Labour entered the general election with a large lead over the Conservative Party in opinion polls, and the potential scale of the party's victory was a topic of discussion during the campaign period. In June 2024, Starmer released the Labour Party manifesto Change, which focuses on economic growth, planning system reforms, infrastructure, what Starmer describes as "clean energy", healthcare, education, childcare, and strengthening workers' rights. It pledges a new publicly owned energy company (Great British Energy), a "Green Prosperity Plan", reducing patient waiting times in the NHS, and renationalisation of the railway network (Great British Railways). It includes wealth creation and "pro-business and pro-worker" policies. The manifesto also pledged to give votes to 16 year olds, reform the House of Lords, and to tax private schools, with money generated going into improving state education.

In July 2024, Starmer led Labour to a landslide victory in the general election, ending fourteen years of Conservative government with Labour becoming the largest party in the House of Commons. Labour achieved a 174-seat simple majority and a total of 411 seats, the party's third-best result in terms of seat share following the 1997 and 2001 general elections. The party became the largest in England for the first time since 2005, in Scotland for the first time since 2010, and retained its status as the largest party in Wales.

In his victory speech, Starmer thanked party workers for their hard work – including nearly five years of revamping and rebranding Labour in the face of Conservative dominance – and urged them to savour the moment, but warned them of challenges ahead and pledged his government would work for "national renewal":

We did it! You campaigned for it, you fought for it, you voted for it and now it has arrived. Change begins now. And it feels good, I have to be honest. Four-and-a-half years of work changing the party. This is what it is for – a changed Labour Party ready to serve our country, ready to restore Britain to the service of working people. And across our country people will be waking up to the news, relieved that a weight has been lifted, a burden finally removed from the shoulders of this great nation. And now we can look forward. Walk into the morning, the sunlight of hope, pale at first but getting stronger through the day, shining once again, on a country with the opportunity after 14 years to get its future back. We said we would end the chaos and we will. We said we would turn the page and we have. Today we start the next chapter, begin the work of change, the mission of national renewal and start to rebuild our country.

Premiership

Appointment as Prime Minister

Starmer giving his first speech as prime minister at 10 Downing Street, 5 July 2024

As the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons, Starmer was appointed as prime minister by King Charles III on 5 July 2024, becoming the first Labour prime minister since Gordon Brown, the first one to win a general election since Tony Blair, and the first Labour government formed during the reign of Charles III. He and his wife Victoria Starmer were driven from Buckingham Palace to Downing Street. Starmer stopped the car on the way back from the palace and went on a walkabout outside Downing Street to meet cheering crowds. In his first speech as prime minister, Starmer paid tribute to the previous prime minister Rishi Sunak, saying "His achievement as the first British Asian Prime Minister of our country should not be underestimated by anyone," and also recognised "the dedication and hard work he brought to his leadership" but said that the people of Britain had voted for change:

You have given us a clear mandate, and we will use it to deliver change. To restore service and respect to politics, end the era of noisy performance, tread more lightly on your lives, and unite our country. Four nations, standing together again, facing down, as we have so often in our past, the challenges of an insecure world. Committed to a calm and patient rebuilding. So with respect and humility, I invite you all to join this government of service in the mission of national renewal. Our work is urgent and we begin it today.

Domestic affairs

Starmer went on a tour of the four countries of the UK and met with the leader of the Scottish Labour Party Anas Sarwar, and also met with First Minister of Scotland John Swinney at the official residence of the First Minister, Bute House. He also met with mayors including Andy Burnham and Sadiq Khan. On 18 July 2024, Starmer chaired the 4th European Political Community Summit. On 24 July 2024, Starmer attended his first Prime Minister's Questions.

Immigration

Main article: Border Security Command

One of Starmer's first acts as prime minister was cancelling the controversial Rwanda asylum plan, claiming it to be "dead and buried." Home secretary Yvette Cooper started setting out the first steps towards establishing a Border Security Command, to tackle smuggling gangs which facilitate illegal migrant crossings over the English Channel. The command would be funded by money previously earmarked for the Rwanda plan and would be responsible for coordinating the activities of Immigration Enforcement, MI5, the Border Force and the National Crime Agency in tackling smuggling gangs which facilitate illegal migrant crossings over the English Channel.

The new office of Border Security Commander was also established, whose remit would be to lead the new command and its members, with the government expecting the appointment of the first officeholder to be made in the coming weeks. A team in the Home Office was tasked with setting out the remit of the command, as well as its governance structure and its strategic direction.

Economy

Main article: Chancellorship of Rachel Reeves

Starmer with his Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, 6 July 2024

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. In 2021, Starmer and Rachel 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.

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. In May 2023, Reeves coined the term "securonomics" to refer to her version of this economic policy, originally in a public address at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. It is heavily inspired by US president Joe Biden's economic policy, particularly his Inflation Reduction Act.

Securonomics is based on the belief that globalisation has failed to achieve its stated aims and that economies in the Western world must adapt in response. It would involve a productivist "active state" taking a more active role in managing the free-market economy, boosting production and drawing up industrial policy, stronger supply chains, and more economic cooperation with international allies with similar economic goals. Reeves believes that the active state is part of an "emerging global consensus" led by Biden's administration which will replace the neoliberal economic consensus, and that economic policy must be driven by the need for security.

On taking office as Chancellor of the Exchequer, 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." She made her first statement as Chancellor two days later, announcing measures to grow the economy. On 29 July 2024, Reeves conducted a spending review, arguing there was a need to make "necessary and urgent decisions" because of an "unfunded" and "undisclosed" overspending of £21.9bn by the previous Conservative government. Among the decisions she made were to axe winter fuel payments for pensioners not receiving pension credit (roughly around 10 million people), announcing the cancellation of several infrastructure projects, and selling surplus public sector buildings and land. Reeves also announced her first budget would be released on 30 October 2024.

State Opening of Parliament

Charles III and Queen Camilla during the 2024 State Opening of Parliament

The 2024 State Opening of Parliament outlined 39 pieces of legislation that Labour proposed to introduced in the months ahead, including bills to renationalise the railways, to strengthen the rights of workers, tackle illegal immigration, reform the House of Lords, and undertake a programme to speed up the delivery of "high quality infrastructure" and housing. In addition, a number of bills proposed by Sunak's Conservative administration were also included, notably the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which had appeared in the 2023 King's Speech, but had been abandoned after the election was called.

Bills

• The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill enabling the government to renationalise the railways.
• The Railways Bill to establish Great British Railways, a body overseeing the rail network.
• The Better Buses Bill allowing greater scope for local government to take over the running of bus services.
• The High Speed Rail (Crewe - Manchester) Bill to enable powers to improve rail services in northern England.
• The English Devolution Bill to facilitate the devolvement of power to elected mayors of combined authorities.
• Reform of the House of Lords. Two separate bills: to phase out the remaining hereditary peers in the House of Lords (House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill), and to increase the number of female bishops in the House (Lords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill).
• The Budget Responsibility Bill requiring an official budget forecast to take place ahead of a government budget.
• The Pension Schemes Bill introducing new rules and requirements for private sector pension schemes.
• The Planning and Infrastructure Bill to simplify the approval process for critical infrastructure, and update compulsory purchase rules.
• The Renters' Rights Bill banning no-fault evictions and extending building safety requirements to the private sector.
• The Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill curbing ground rent costs and banning forfeiture.
• The Great British Energy Bill to establish GB Energy, a state owned energy investment and generation company.
• The National Wealth Fund Bill establishing a £7.3bn fund to be invested over five years in infrastructure and green industry.
• The Water (Special Measures) Bill giving the water regulator Ofwat greater powers to prevent water company bosses from receiving bonuses, and to make water company bosses liable for any illegal activity.
• The Crime and Policing Bill to give police greater powers to deal with antisocial behaviour. The bill will also make assaulting retail workers a specific offence.
• The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill to require venues to establish procedures for dealing with terrorist threats, enacting Martyn's Law.
• The Victims, Courts and Public Protection Bill requiring offenders to attend sentencing hearings and removing parental rights from convicted sex offenders.
• The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill enabling police to use anti-terrorism laws to tackle gangs who smuggle asylum seekers to the UK.
• The Employment Rights Bill introducing a number new rights for workers, and banning the "exploitative" use of zero hour contracts.
• The Equality (Race and Disability) Bill extending the right to make a claim for equal pay under the Equality Act to people from ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.
• The Tobacco and Vapes Bill to bring in a phased ban on smoking.
• The Mental Health Bill to tighten rules on sectioning people, and change the rules on care for people with learning difficulties.
• The Children's Wellbeing Bill requiring local authorities to keep a register of children not in full time education at school, and establish breakfast clubs for all primary schools in England.
• The Skills England Bill to establish a public body to improve and devolve skills training.
• The Conversion Practices Bill restricting "abusive" practices designed to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.
• The Digital Information and Smart Data Bill enabling people to use a digital ID to buy age-restricted content and for pre-employment checks.
• The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill establishing new rules to protect critical infrastructure from cyber attacks.
• Hillsborough law: A piece of legislation requiring public servants to be truthful during public inquiries.
• A bill allowing the Crown Estate to borrow from the government in order to invest in new infrastructure projects.
• The Football Governance Bill to establish a regulator for the top five tiers of English football.
• A bill to establish an Armed Forces Commissioner with powers to inspect faulty kit and equipment.

Skills England is a new government agency that will be created by the Skills England Bill. The agency will increase flexibility within the skills training area, to properly cater for skills shortages within regional economies, and to ensure the UK trains its own workforce. Starmer 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.

Suspension of rebel Labour MPs

Starmer and Reeves have refused to scrap the benefit cap introduced by the Cameron–Clegg coalition, citing financial reasons. Reeves said that she would not make an "unfunded" pledge, and cited Labour's proposals for the creation of more nurseries and free breakfast clubs at all primary schools as evidence of Labour's commitment to tackling the issue; stating that they would have a "material impact" on child poverty. On 23 July 2024, Labour withdrew the whip from 7 of its MPs who had supported an amendment tabled by the Scottish National Party (SNP)'s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn to scrap it, that claimed scrapping the cap would immediately raise 300,000 children out of poverty. MPs rejected the SNP amendment by 363 votes to 103. The seven Labour MPs suspended for six months were John McDonnell, Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Imran Hussain, Apsana Begum and Zarah Sultana, all of whom now sit as independents. Starmer 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.

Southport stabbing and subsequent riots

Main articles: 2024 Southport stabbing and 2024 United Kingdom riots

Starmer holding a press conference about the riots, 1 August 2024

Domestically, Starmer said that his primary concerns would be economic growth, reforming the planning system, infrastructure, energy, healthcare, education, childcare and strengthening workers' rights, all of which were mentioned in Labour's 2024 election manifesto. One of his first acts as prime minister was the cancellation of the controversial Rwanda asylum plan; he described it as now "dead and buried." Cooper established the Border Security Command to tackle smuggling gangs which facilitate illegal migrant crossings over the English Channel.

The 2024 State Opening of Parliament outlined 39 pieces of legislation that Labour proposed to introduced in the months ahead, including bills to renationalise the railways, bring local bus services under local public control, to strengthen the rights of workers, tackle illegal immigration, reform the House of Lords, and undertake a programme to speed up the delivery of "high quality infrastructure" and housing. In addition, a number of bills proposed by the previous Conservative administration were also included, notably the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which had appeared in the 2023 King's Speech, but had been abandoned after the election was called. Skills England, a body whose objective will be to reduce the need for overseas employees by improving skills training for people in England, was launched on 22 July.

Starmer has refused to scrap the benefit cap introduced by the Cameron–Clegg coalition, citing financial reasons. On 23 July 2024, Labour withdrew the whip from 7 of its MPs who had supported an amendment tabled by the Scottish National Party (SNP)'s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn to scrap it, that claimed scrapping the cap would immediately raise 300,000 children out of poverty. MPs rejected the SNP amendment by 363 votes to 103. The seven Labour MPs suspended for six months were John McDonnell, Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Imran Hussain, Apsana Begum and Zarah Sultana, all of whom now sit as independents. Starmer 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.

Following the 2024 Southport stabbing, Starmer described the incident as horrendous and shocking and thanked emergency services for their swift response. He visited Southport and laid flowers at the scene, where he was heckled by some members of the public. Starmer 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. 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. 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". Starmer later called an emergency response meeting of Cobra. Starmer has faced criticism for his response to the riots, including by Twitter owner Elon Musk, for not condemning all sides and only focusing on the far-right. Musk had tweeted that "Civil war is inevitable", his comments were condemned by Starmer's official spokesman.

Parliamentary business

Following the general election, chairs and member of select committees are yet to be appointed. The House of Commons allocated which parties would hold each Chair in advance of the summer recess on 30 July 2024. Nominations for Chairs and memberships will run until 9 September, with ballots taking place on 11 September.

Foreign affairs

The first foreign meeting that Starmer attended as prime minister was the 2024 NATO summit. On the flight to the summit, he laid out a "cast iron" commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, following a "root and branch" review of the UK's defences. In July 2024, Starmer and US President Joe Biden discussed their shared commitment to the Special Relationship and mutual support of Ukraine. Biden also congratulated Starmer on "a hell of a victory". Following the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, Starmer tweeted "Political violence in any form has no place in our societies" and offered Donald Trump and his family his best wishes.

Russia and Ukraine

Main article: United Kingdom and the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Starmer with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, July 2024

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Starmer called for "widespread and hard-hitting" economic sanctions against Russia. In February 2023, Starmer met Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy, and pledged support for Ukraine during the Russian invasion of the country; Starmer stated that there will be no change in Britain's position on the war in Ukraine under his leadership. He also called for Russian leaders, including Vladimir Putin, to be tried at The Hague for crimes against humanity. Starmer supported the International Criminal Court's issuance of an arrest warrant for Putin, after he was indicted in the ICC.

At the 2024 NATO summit, Starmer signaled that Ukraine could use Britain's Storm Shadow missile donations to strike military targets inside Russia. In a meeting with Zelensky, Starmer called for an "irreversible" membership strategy for Ukraine to join NATO.

Israel and Palestine

Main article: British support for Israel in the Israel–Hamas war

Starmer and his wife Victoria boarding a plane for the 2024 NATO summit, 9 July 2024

In 2021, Starmer said that Israel "must respect international law" and called on the Israeli government to work with Palestinian leaders to de-escalate the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Starmer opposes Israeli settlements, proposals for Israeli annexation of the West Bank, and "the eviction of Palestinians" in the Israeli-occupied territories; he also opposes the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Starmer also has expressed support for the creation of an "inverse OPEC" to promote renewable energy. He has rejected the contention that Israel is an apartheid state. During a June 2023 meeting with Palestinian Mission to the United Kingdom head Husam Zomlot, Starmer recommitted the Labour Party to the recognition of a Palestinian state. In January 2024, Starmer said that Labour would recognize a State of Palestine as part of a multi-national peace process, rather than extending recognition immediately or unilaterally; this confirmed a recommendations from the party's policy forum in October 2023.

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." 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". On 20 October, Starmer said that he only meant that Israel had the right to defend itself. 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.

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". On 18 February 2024, Starmer called for a "ceasefire that lasts" and said it must "happen now", having previously declined to call for one. In July 2024, Starmer told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the UK would continue its "vital cooperation to deter malign threats" with Israel.

Ministry

Main article: Starmer ministry

Starmer attending his first Cabinet meeting, 6 July 2024

Starmer formed his government throughout 5–7 July, after his party won 411 seats in the 2024 general election, with the new Cabinet first meeting on 6 July and the new Parliament being called to meet on 9 July. It has been noted for its female political representation, appointing women to a record half of the Cabinet (including Rachel Reeves as the first female Chancellor of the Exchequer in British history) and three of the five top positions in the British government, including Angela Rayner as Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Starmer also appointed three politically independent experts: scientist Patrick Vallance as Minister of State for Science, rehabilitation campaigner James Timpson as Minister of State for Prisons, Parole and Probation, and international law expert Richard Hermer as Attorney General for England and Wales. The government includes a few ministers from the New Labour governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, including Hilary Benn, Yvette Cooper, David Lammy and Ed Miliband in the Cabinet, and Jacqui Smith and Douglas Alexander as junior ministers.

Changes

Changes from Starmer's final Shadow Cabinet to Cabinet.

• Thangam Debbonaire (Shadow Culture Secretary) lost her seat and Lisa Nandy was appointed in her place.
• Nandy's role (Shadow International Development Cabinet Minister) was a full member of Shadow Cabinet despite the department having merged into the Foreign Office under the previous government and not reformed by Starmer. Anneliese Dodds attends Cabinet as Minister of State for Development.
• Dodds served in Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary and party chair, and she is also the junior Minister of State for Women and Equalities, while Bridget Phillipson succeeds her as the senior Minister for Women and Equalities.
• Ellie Reeves (Deputy National Campaign Coordinator) was a member of Shadow Cabinet in her previous role that has no government counterpart, and was appointed to succeed Dodds' role as party chair and Minister without Portfolio outside Cabinet.
• Jonathan Ashworth (Shadow Paymaster General) lost his seat. Nick Thomas-Symonds (Shadow Minister without Portfolio) was appointed Minister for the Cabinet Office as well as Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations, but will not attend Cabinet.
• Emily Thornberry (Shadow Attorney General) was not appointed to Cabinet nor any junior ministerial role and returned to the backbenches. Richard Hermer was appointed Attorney General from outside parliament and will be given a life peerage to the House of Lords to serve.
• Hermer (Attorney General), Alan Campbell (Commons Chief Whip) and Darren Jones (Chief Secretary to the Treasury) merely attend Cabinet, roles that were full members of the Shadow Cabinet.
• The Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lords Chief Whip) was a member of Shadow Cabinet, but he not was appointed to Cabinet while remaining in the same role.

International prime ministerial trips

Main article: List of international prime ministerial trips made by Keir Starmer

Starmer with the US president Joe Biden at the White House, July 2024

Starmer has made three international trips to three countries during his premiership. As of 26 July 2024, the number of visits per country where Starmer travelled are:

• One: France, Germany, United States.

Country	Location	Date	Details
United States	Washington, DC	9–11 July	Starmer attended the 2024 NATO summit.