British Labour Party leader Keir Starmer (61) will become the new British Prime Minister, after Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party suffered a major defeat in the general election. Who is Starmer and what does he stand for? Sketch of the new Prime Minister.

Sir Keir Rodney Starmer was born on September 2, 1962 in the historic district of Southwark in London, but grew up in a working-class family in the small village of Oxted, south London. Starmer was the first in his family to study and gain a law degree.

Her career then began in the British justice system. She specialized as a human rights lawyer and represented many people around the world. While working in Northern Ireland, where she advised the Police Service of Northern Ireland on human rights, among other things, she decided she wanted to enter politics later. This would happen in 2015, when she was elected to the House of Commons on behalf of the Labour Party.

Party leader

After Labour’s defeat again, Starmer will become party leader in 2020. He first served as a shadow minister within the party, which made him a household name. He has moved the party more towards the centre, unlike his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn. He has also drawn criticism from the left. In May this year, two controversial Conservatives switched to Labour.

Starmer has set out five missions he wants to achieve: investing in clean energy, sustainable growth for all, improving health services, reforming the justice system and creating equal opportunities for all children, whatever their background.

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Who is Starmer outside of politics?

Voters in the UK have described Starmer as “boring”, despite his extensive CV. One wonders what politicians are like outside of politics. Starmer himself has said on this subject that he is fine if “that is the only thing the British press says”.

Tom Baldwin, Starmer’s biographer, described the politician as “complex and paradoxical”. He said Starmer was someone who thought through decisions and sometimes backtracked. “He didn’t have the charisma that made Boris Johnson so popular, but he had values ​​and empathy. That made him both special and ordinary.”

According to the British press, Labour’s landslide victory in the election was not directly due to Starmer’s image, but rather because voters were fed up with the Conservative Party and wanted to see change.

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Labour wins UK election, major defeat for Sunak

By: Rick Hartkamp