Outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer has defended his administration's policies in a 1,600-word essay, asserting that the effects of his plans are only now becoming apparent and that the country is in an improved state. Starmer, who is set to leave office after two years, argued in his piece published on Substack that the benefits of his government's actions were intended to materialize later in its term. He contended that confronting difficult decisions early was part of the strategy to accelerate the nation's progress.

Despite official figures indicating a decline in household disposable incomes, Starmer maintained that working individuals have seen steady economic improvement. He also highlighted the "courage" required to reform the Labour Party following the period under Jeremy Corbyn, a turnaround he stated was once considered impossible.

However, his deputy, Lucy Powell, who is allied with potential successor Andy Burnham, suggested that Starmer's departure was necessary because he had "lost the dressing room." Powell noted that while there was much to be proud of, a sense of hope had been lacking. She indicated that "mistakes" had overshadowed some of the government's achievements.

Starmer's essay, released on the second anniversary of his entry into Downing Street, portrayed his departure as a "passing the torch" to Burnham. He wrote that "it was always the plan to confront the toughest decisions early in the political cycle" and that "the benefits would start to be visible now." He acknowledged a struggle to articulate the government's achievements into a clear vision, attributing this in part to the "sheer weight and scope of Britain’s problems."

Key areas of focus for his government, according to Starmer, included stable public finances, the planning system, industrial strategy, and artificial intelligence. While admitting the economy is "not booming," he attributed this to "unfavorable global circumstances" and expressed pride that the country was performing better than its peers. He stated that government borrowing was decreasing faster than anticipated and that wages had risen monthly during his tenure.

Official figures from the previous week, however, showed that disposable household incomes dropped by 0.8 percent in the first quarter of the year, after accounting for inflation. The metric for real household disposable income per head, a target for Starmer, has now decreased in four of the last five quarters and is lower than when his government took office.

Starmer also reflected on his leadership of the Labour Party, which he took over in 2020. He described the transformation of the party and its subsequent large majority in 2024 as an achievement that "nobody thought possible back in 2020," noting the courage it required from many individuals.

He urged his successor to continue the "battle for the soul of the nation," characterizing the Labour Party as a vital vehicle for social justice. He acknowledged the party could be "frustrating" but warned that without it, "the forces of reaction, conservatism and grievance are free to turn Britain against itself unhindered."

Andy Burnham is widely expected to succeed Starmer as Prime Minister, with a leadership "coronation" reportedly scheduled for July 20. Starmer is also slated to attend a NATO summit in Turkey this week.