Sir Keir Starmer has insisted that Labour 'should go on to win the next election' because of the work his government has done, and expressed no personal animosity towards his likely successor, Andy Burnham. In his first sit-down interview since announcing his resignation as Prime Minister, Starmer told BBC Breakfast that he and Burnham have been working together for years and he wishes his successor well.
Starmer and Burnham's Working Relationship
Starmer said: 'When I first came here, I came into politics late in life, and we had just lost another election. The first person I had wanted to work for and did work for was Andy Burnham, and we worked together in the shadow home office team for a little while.' He highlighted their collaboration on Northern Powerhouse Rail and in the aftermath of a synagogue attack in Manchester.
Asked if he likes Burnham, Starmer replied: 'Yes, I do. We've always got on. He supports the wrong football club. We get on, I've never had any personal animosity, and I wish he... if he is my successor, obviously there's a little bit of process to go. But I want what comes next to succeed and I'm going to do everything I possibly can to make sure it does succeed.'
Legacy and Achievements
Starmer believes his government has 'stabilised the economy' over the last two years, and pointed to efforts to tackle antisemitism in the party in opposition and the 2024 general election victory as key achievements. He said: 'My successor will have a platform to build on, which means that Labour can go on and should go on to win the next election.'
He added: 'It's the end of my journey in politics. I'm very clear about that. I've said to all my colleagues it's not the end of their journey. And it's very important that we all do what we can to make sure what comes next is a success.'
Departure and Future Role
Starmer said he 'didn't come into politics in order to be the Prime Minister', and acknowledged: 'Did I want it to end at this point in this way? No, I didn't. But I accept that with good grace.' He plans to stay on as an MP until the next election and dismissed rumours of becoming Nato's next secretary general.
He outlined his approach to supporting the next government: 'It'll be given behind the scenes and I won't be on camera or on the radio giving my version of what the Prime Minister should be doing because that's my interpretation of supporting a Labour government.'
Foreign Policy Advice to Burnham
In earlier excerpts, Starmer warned Burnham it will not be possible to spend less time focusing on international affairs. He said: 'If you're prime minister and you care what bills are going to be like in any household around the country, you have to care about finding a lasting solution to the situation in Ukraine, you have to care about what happens in the Strait of Hormuz. It's not sensible to think you can just separate these two things out.'
Throughout his premiership, Starmer faced accusations of spending too much time on the world stage, with opponents branding him 'never here Keir'. Burnham has largely focused on domestic issues as he sets out his stall to be the next prime minister.
Burnham's Reddit Session
Burnham gave some indication of his foreign policy stance in an 'Ask Me Anything' on Reddit, saying he would '100 per cent' give the same level of support to Ukraine as Starmer had, and suggested continuing efforts to broker a closer relationship with the EU. He also ruled out calling an early general election.
