Outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has described his decision to end his political career as "intensely personal" and "really tough," a choice he made in consultation with his family. In his first interview since resigning, Starmer told the BBC that he believed he had successfully "saved" the Labour Party and served as a capable prime minister during his two-year tenure.
Starmer addressed the frequent criticism he faced, often dubbed "never here Keir," regarding his extensive involvement in international affairs. He asserted that a prime minister cannot separate global challenges from domestic responsibilities. "It is not sensible to think you can just separate these two things out," Starmer stated. "There's often this discussion - what's the right balance between dealing with international affairs and dealing with domestic affairs? They're one and the same thing."
He warned his likely successor, Andy Burnham, that they would inevitably face the same demanding global landscape. "Whoever's my successor is going to face the same global conflict. We keep saying, and it's true, we're in a more dangerous and volatile world than we've been in for probably most of my lifetime," Starmer said. He emphasized that this reality would not change, nor would the concurrent domestic challenges.
Supporters of Burnham have expressed hope that he might be able to concentrate more on domestic issues, such as the cost of living and public services. However, Starmer maintained that the demands of international diplomacy are unavoidable for any leader. "That's not going to change. And the domestic challenges aren't going to change," he concluded. Starmer also indicated he would remain silent under his successor, stating he liked Burnham and they had always had a good relationship.