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Premiership of Keir Starmer

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This article is about Keir Starmer's tenure as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. For the people in his government, see Starmer ministry.
Keir Starmer
Official portrait, 2024
Premiership of Keir Starmer
5 July 2024 – present
MonarchCharles III
CabinetStarmer ministry
PartyLabour
Election
Seat10 Downing Street
This article is part of
a series about
Keir Starmer
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Policies
Elections

Keir Starmer's signature

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 also serving simultaneously as First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union. He is the first Labour prime minister since Gordon Brown in 2010 and the first one to win a general election since Tony Blair in 2005.

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 has stated his intention to establish the Border Security Command to replace the Rwanda asylum plan. In foreign policy, Starmer has supported Ukraine in its war against Russia and Israel in its war against Hamas.

2024 general election landslide victory[edit]

Main article: 2024 United Kingdom general election

In July 2024, Starmer led Labour to a landslide victory in the 2024 general election, ending fourteen years of Conservative government with Labour becoming the largest party in the House of Commons.[1] 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 Tory dominance – and urged them to savour the moment, but warned them of challenges ahead and pledged his government would work for "national renewal":[2]

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. 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.

Entering government[edit]

Starmer giving his first speech as prime minister, 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.[3] Starmer was driven from Buckingham Palace to Downing Street, where he was greeted by a crowd of supporters and gave his first speech as prime minister. In his speech, 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:[4][5]

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.

Other world leaders including Joe Biden and Justin Trudeau, as well as former Labour Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, congratulated Starmer after he was appointed prime minister.[6] In his first day as prime minister, Starmer contacted Volodymyr Zelenskyy and told him that the change of government would make no difference to the UK's support for Ukraine, and that the UK would continue supplying defensive support amid the Russian invasion of the country.[7] Starmer also contacted Biden, and discussed their shared commitment to the special relationship between the UK and US, and their plans for economic growth.[8]

One of his first acts as prime minister was cancelling the controversial Rwanda asylum plan, claiming it to be "dead and buried."[9][10] 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.[11][12] Starmer went on a tour of the four countries of the United Kingdom 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.[13] He also met with mayors including Andy Burnham and Sadiq Khan.[14]

Cabinet[edit]

Main article: Starmer ministry
Starmer attending his first Cabinet meeting, 6 July 2024

His new government was formed throughout 5–7 July, with the new Cabinet first meeting on 6 July[15] and the new Parliament being called to meet on 9 July.[16] Starmer appointed 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 his Deputy Prime Minister.[17][18]

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. Starmer made some other ministerial positions; amongst them were three experts not chosen from his parliamentary party, including Patrick Vallance.

Policies[edit]

In 2023, Starmer set out five missions for his government, targeting issues such as economic growth, health, clean energy, crime and education. On 2 June 2024, Starmer pledged to reduce record high legal immigration to the UK. Net migration to the UK was 685,000 in 2023.[19]

In June 2024, Starmer released the Labour Party 2024 general election manifesto Change, which focuses on economic growth, planning system reforms, infrastructure, what Starmer describes as "clean energy," healthcare, education, childcare, and strengthening workers' rights.[20][21] 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).[22] It includes wealth creation and "pro-business and pro-worker" policies.[23] 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.[24][25]

Parliamentary business[edit]

Following the general election, chairs and member of select committees are yet to be appointed.[26]

International prime ministerial trips[edit]

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

The following international trips are scheduled to be made by Starmer during 2024:

Country Location Date Details
 United States Washington D.C. 9–11 July Starmer is scheduled to attend the 2024 NATO summit.[27]
 United States New York City September Starmer is expected to attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly.
 Samoa Apia 21–25 October Starmer is scheduled to attend the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.[27]
 Hungary TBD 7 November Starmer is expected to attend the 5th European Political Community Summit.
 Brazil Rio de Janeiro 18–19 November Starmer is expected to attend the 2024 G20 summit.
 Azerbaijan Baku November Starmer is expected to attend COP29.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Brown, Faye (5 July 2024). "'Change begins now', Starmer says - as Labour win historic landslide". Sky News. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  2. ^ ""UK Gets Its Future Back": Labour's Keir Starmer In Victory Speech". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  3. ^ Mason, Rowena (5 July 2024). "Keir Starmer promises 'stability and moderation' in first speech as PM". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Keir Starmer's first speech as Prime Minister: 5 July 2024". GOV.UK. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  5. ^ Staff, Pa Political (5 July 2024). "Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's victory speech in full". Evening Standard. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  6. ^ "General election: World leaders react to Keir Starmer and Labour's 'remarkable' win". Sky News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  7. ^ "PM call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine: 5 July 2024". GOV.UK. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  8. ^ "PM call with President Biden of the United States: 5 July 2024". GOV.UK. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  9. ^ Riley-Smith, Ben; Hymas, Charles (5 July 2024). "Starmer kills off Rwanda plan on first day as PM". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Sir Keir Starmer confirms Rwanda plan 'dead' on day one as PM". BBC News. 6 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  11. ^ Riley-Smith, Ben; Hymas, Charles (5 July 2024). "Starmer kills off Rwanda plan on first day as PM". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Cooper sets out plan to tackle small boat crossings". BBC News. 7 July 2024. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Keir Starmer and John Swinney vow to work together despite 'differences'". BBC News. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Starmer and Rayner meet local leaders for devolution talks". BBC News. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Keir Starmer: Labour leader to become UK prime minister". BBC News. 5 July 2024. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  16. ^ "House of Commons Library, 2024. "What Happens in the Commons after the general election?"". House of Commons Library. 2024. Archived from the original on 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  17. ^ "Who is in Keir Starmer's new cabinet". BBC News. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  18. ^ Adam, Karla; Taylor, Adam; Timsit, Annabelle (5 July 2024). "Who is in Keir Starmer's new U.K. government?". The Washington Post. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  19. ^ "Sir Keir Starmer announces plans to lower legal migration". Sky News. 2 June 2024.
  20. ^ "Change". The Labour Party. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  21. ^ "Labour manifesto 2024: Find out how Labour will get Britain's future back". The Labour Party. 23 May 2024. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  22. ^ Reid, Jenni (13 June 2024). "Britain's Labour Party pledges 'wealth creation' as it targets landslide election victory". CNBC. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  23. ^ "Starmer launches Labour's pro-business, pro-worker manifesto with £7.35bn of new taxes". Yahoo News. 13 June 2024. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  24. ^ "Change and growth: five key takeaways from the Labour manifesto launch". The Guardian. 13 June 2024. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  25. ^ Gibbons, Amy; Sigsworth, Tim (16 May 2024). "Labour Party manifesto 2024: Keir Starmer's election promises". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  26. ^ kelly, Richard (3 July 2024). "What happens in the Commons after the general election?". UK parliament.
  27. ^ a b Fisher, Lucy; Pickard, Jim; Foster, Peter (2 July 2024). "Keir Starmer to signal Britain is 'back' on the world stage". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
British premierships
Preceded by Starmer premiership
2024–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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