Labour Party leadership of Keir Starmer

Keir Starmer's tenure as Leader of the Labour Party (April 2020 – present)

Keir Starmer campaigning during the 2020 Labour Party leadership election

The Labour Party leadership of Keir Starmer began when Keir Starmer was elected as Leader of the UK Labour Party in April 2020, following the resignation of Jeremy Corbyn after Labour's defeat at the 2019 general election. Starmer's tenure as leader has been marked by his opposition to some of the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and various other issues involving the government, including Partygate, the cost of living crisis, and the industrial disputes.

During Starmer's tenure, his party suffered the loss of a previously Labour seat in the 2021 Hartlepool by-election, followed by holds in the 2021 Batley and Spen by-election, 2022 Birmingham Erdington by-election and 2022 City of Chester by-election, and a gain from the Conservative Party in the 2022 Wakefield by-election. Labour received mixed results in the 2021 local elections, followed by gains in the 2022 local elections. Labour made significant gains in the 2023 local elections, becoming the largest party in local government for the first time since 2002. In February 2023, Starmer's antisemitism reforms resulted in the party no longer being monitored by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). However, Starmer has faced criticism for his leadership of the party, such as via accusations of controlling the party in an authoritarian manner, dropping the pledges he made in his leadership bid, and his public statement that Israel has the right to cut off power and water supplies to Gaza.

Since the end of 2021, Labour have consistently polled ahead of the Conservatives as the governments under prime ministers Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak were affected by issues such as the cost of living crisis, the July 2022 government crisis, the September 2022 mini-budget, the October 2022 government crisis, the National Health Service strikes, and a number of scandals involving Conservative MPs.

|  |

This article is part of
a series about

Keir Starmer

|

* Political positions
* Electoral history
* MP for Holborn and St Pancras

Shadow Minister for Immigration

* 2016 shadow cabinet resignations

Shadow Brexit Secretary

* Proposed referendum
* Leader of the Opposition (2020–present)

Leader of the Labour Party

* 2020 leadership election
* Leadership
* Shadow Cabinet
* Opposition frontbench
* May 2021 reshuffle
* November 2021 reshuffle
* 2023 reshuffle
* Beergate

* * *

Elections

* By elections (2019–present parliament)
* Local elections
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* Next United Kingdom general election

* * *

Related

* The Starmer Project
* Personal life

* * *

* v
* t
* e

## Background[edit]

Main articles: 2019 United Kingdom general election and Labour Party leadership of Jeremy Corbyn

In the 2019 general election, Labour suffered its worst election defeat since 1935, with the Conservative Party earning an 80-seat majority.[1][2] Labour won 203 seats, gaining 32.2% of the vote.[2] This was the Labour Party's fourth consecutive general election defeat.[3] Following Labour's defeat, Jeremy Corbyn announced that he would stand down as Leader of the Labour Party.[4]

Former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair said that Corbyn's Brexit policy "alienated both sides of the debate" and that he personified "a brand of quasi-revolutionary socialism - mixing far-left economic policy with deep hostility to Western foreign policy". Blair also highlighted the handling of antisemitism in the party as a key issue.[5] Political scientist John Curtice said that "the bond between Labour and its traditional working-class base is now badly strained" after a substantial swing of votes from Labour to the Conservatives in leave-voting areas.[6] Corbyn took responsibility for the defeat but said he remained proud of his party's campaign.[7] In the Observer, Corbyn claimed that Labour's election campaign had successfully re-set the terms of debate and his manifesto would be seen as "historically important".[7] Corbyn's Shadow Chancellor and ally John McDonnell also took responsibility for the defeat but also cited the media's portrayal of Corbyn as a factor in the defeat.[7][8]

## Labour leadership bid[edit]

Main article: 2020 Labour Party leadership election (UK)

Keir Starmer and his leadership rival Rebecca Long-Bailey at a hustings in February 2020

On 4 January 2020, Keir Starmer announced his candidacy for the ensuing leadership election.[9] Starmer had previously been Labour's Shadow Brexit Secretary since 2016.[10] By 8 January, it was reported that he had gained enough nominations from Labour MPs and MEPs to get onto the ballot paper, and that the trade union Unison was backing him. Unison, with 1.3 million members, said Starmer was the best placed candidate to unite the party and regain public trust.[11] He also gained support from former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.[12] Supporters of Rebecca Long-Bailey criticised Starmer for releasing details of his campaign donations on the register of members' interests rather than independently, as Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy had done, which meant that some details of his donors were not published until after the election had ended.[13][14]

Starmer went on to win the leadership contest on 4 April 2020, defeating Long-Bailey and Nandy, with 56.2% of the vote in the first round,[15] and subsequently became Leader of the Opposition.[16]

## Leader of the Opposition[edit]

In his leadership acceptance speech, Starmer said he would refrain from "scoring party political points" and planned to "engage constructively with the government", having been elected amid the COVID-19 pandemic.[17] Starmer also pledged in the speech to end anti-Semitism in the party.[12]

### 2020 Shadow Cabinet appointments, dismissals and rebellions[edit]

In April 2020, Starmer's shadow cabinet was appointed over the course of the week following the leadership election, which included former leader Ed Miliband, as well as both of the candidates he defeated in the contest. He also appointed Anneliese Dodds as Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, making her the first woman to serve in that position in either a ministerial or shadow ministerial capacity.[18]

On 25 June 2020, Starmer dismissed his former leadership rival Rebecca Long-Bailey from her post as Shadow Secretary of State for Education. Long-Bailey had refused to delete a tweet calling the actress Maxine Peake an "absolute diamond" and linking to an interview in The Independent in which Peake said that the practice of kneeling on someone's neck by US police, as used in the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, was "learnt from seminars with Israeli secret services". The original article stated that "the Israeli police has denied this."[19] Starmer said that because the article "contained anti-Semitic conspiracy theories" it should not have been shared by Long-Bailey.[20][21] The decision to dismiss Long-Bailey was criticised by the Socialist Campaign Group, whose members met with Starmer about the decision.[22] The decision was welcomed by some Jewish groups including the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Labour Movement. Starmer said that "restoring trust with the Jewish community is a number one priority. Antisemitism takes many different forms and it is important that we all are vigilant against it."[23][24] On 27 June, he replaced her with Kate Green.[25]

On 23 September 2020, three frontbenchers (Olivia Blake, Nadia Whittome, and Beth Winter) rebelled against Labour's position of abstention on the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill and voted against the bill; all three lost their frontbench roles over the issue. This move was seen as an indication of the firm discipline Starmer intended to exert over his party.[26]

In the third reading of the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill on 15 October 2020, the Labour Party stance was to abstain yet 34 Labour MPs rebelled, including shadow ministers Dan Carden and Margaret Greenwood, and five parliamentary private secretaries who all resigned from their frontbench roles. These 34 were penalised the next day by being put on probation for going against the one-line whip to abstain.[27]

### May 2021 Shadow Cabinet reshuffle[edit]

In the aftermath of relatively poor results in the 2021 local elections, Starmer carried out a May 2021 shadow cabinet reshuffle. Starmer dismissed Angela Rayner as Chair of the Labour Party and National Campaign Coordinator following the elections.[28][29] The move was criticised by John McDonnell, former Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.[30][31] The major outcome of the reshuffle was the demotion of the Shadow Chancellor, Anneliese Dodds.[32] Rachel Reeves was appointed as the new Shadow Chancellor and Angela Rayner succeeded Reeves as Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Nick Brown was dismissed as Chief Whip and replaced by his deputy, Alan Campbell. Valerie Vaz departed as Shadow Leader of the House of Commons and was replaced by Thangam Debbonaire, who in turn was succeeded as Shadow Secretary of State for Housing by Lucy Powell. On 11 May 2021, Starmer's Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) Carolyn Harris resigned, which The Times reported was after allegedly spreading false rumours about the private life of Angela Rayner prior to her dismissal.[33][34] Sharon Hodgson was appointed as Starmer's new PPS.[35]

Starmer at the Cenotaph in 2021

### November 2021 Shadow Cabinet reshuffle[edit]

The November 2021 shadow cabinet reshuffle, which was considered a surprise,[36] included the promotion of Yvette Cooper and David Lammy to Shadow Home Secretary and Shadow Foreign Secretary, respectively, while Miliband was moved from Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Industrial Strategy to Shadow Secretary of State for Climate Change and Net Zero. The appointment of Cooper in particular was described by some commentators as a sign of Labour further splitting from the Corbyn leadership and moving to the right.[37] The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg and Robert Peston of ITV News said that the reshuffle aimed to "combine experience and youth" and end "the fatuous project of trying to ... placate Labour's warring factions", and instead chose "shadow ministers for their perceived ability".[38][39] In the New Statesman, journalist Stephen Bush suggested that Starmer had "removed underperforming shadow cabinet ministers and rewarded his biggest hitters – but the resulting shadow cabinet looks to be less than the sum of its parts."[40]

### 2022 NATO and Ukraine policy dispute[edit]

Shortly before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, 11 Labour backbench MPs signed a letter by the Stop the War Coalition that accused the UK government of "sabre-rattling" and said that NATO "should call a halt to its eastward expansion and commit to a new security deal for Europe which meets the needs of all states and peoples", whilst also arguing that NATO was an aggressive organisation due to military actions taken by its members outside its borders in the past. The MPs were asked by the party whips, representatives of the leadership tasked with maintaining discipline among Labour MPs, to remove their names from the statement under threat of being expelled from the party and all quickly agreed to do so. A spokesperson for the Labour Party said that this action ensured that every Labour MP understood that their party was on the side of "Britain, Nato, freedom and democracy".[41][42] At around this time, Young Labour's Twitter account was suspended after it criticised the leadership policy towards NATO.[43] In an interview with the BBC in March 2022, Starmer was asked whether he would be hoping that MPs who backed Stop the War "won't be standing at the next election or if they do whether [he would] be fully supporting them to do so". After repeatedly being accused of not answering the question, Starmer gave the answer of "well, they are Labour MPs and of course I support them, but all of our MPs will go through a process for selection into the next election".[44]

### Industrial action policy disputes[edit]

The summer of 2022 saw significant amounts of industrial unrest.[45][46] Starmer instructed members of his shadow cabinet to refrain from joining picket lines;[47] some Labour MPs appeared on picket-lines including frontbenchers Kate Osborne, Paula Barker, Peter Kyle, and Navendu Mishra. The Labour Party's contingents in the Scottish and Welsh parliaments also took a different approach.[48][49] Sam Tarry, Shadow Minister for Buses and Local Transport, was dismissed on 27 July after appearing on a rail strike picket. He said in a TV interview that workers should receive a pay rise in line with inflation though Labour policy was that pay increases should be based on negotiation. A spokesperson for the party said that "Sam Tarry was sacked because he booked himself onto media programmes without permission and then made up policy on the hoof."[50] His dismissal was criticised by trade union leaders and Tarry wrote in an opinion piece for the i that "failing to join the striking rail workers on a picket line would have been an abject dereliction of duty for me as a Labour MP."[51][52]

### Diane Abbott suspension[edit]

In April 2023, after writing an article in The Observer, former Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott was suspended as a Labour MP pending an investigation.[53][54] In the article, Abbott claimed that although "many types of white people with points of difference" such as Jewish, Irish or Traveller people can experience prejudice, they are not subject to racism "all their lives".[54][53] Abbott later apologised for the article, saying that she had erroneously sent an early draft of her article.[53] A Labour Party statement said that the comments were "deeply offensive and wrong".[54] Starmer said that she was suspended due to anti-Semitism.[53]

### Neal Lawson's possible expulsion[edit]

In June 2023, Neal Lawson, the chair of the centre-left think tank, Compass, faced possible expulsion from the Labour Party after 44 years of membership due to tweeting in 2021 in favour of other political parties working together with Labour against the Tories.[55] In response to being notified of his possible expulsion, Lawson said that the party had become obsessed with "petty tyranny" and under the leadership of Keir Starmer the party had been captured by a clique who are "behaving like playground bullies".[55] Labour MP Jon Cruddas accused the party under Starmer of being right-wing, illiberal and of enacting a "witch-hunt", calling the decision regarding Lawson a "disgrace".[56]

### 2023 Shadow Cabinet reshuffle[edit]

Main article: 2023 British shadow cabinet reshuffle

In September 2023, Starmer reshuffled his shadow cabinet for the third time since taking over as leader.[57][58] Writers from The Guardian and Politico said that the Blairite wing of the party had prospered in the reshuffle to the detriment of the soft left of the party.[59][60] One shadow minister, said of the reshuffle, "It's all the Blairites" and called it "an entirely factional takeover".[61] Starmer said that he was putting his "strongest possible players on the pitch" ahead of the upcoming general election.[62] Tom Belger writing for LabourList described the reshuffle as a continuing of "Labour’s right-ward march".[63]

Starmer's deputy Angela Rayner received the shadow levelling up post, replacing Lisa Nandy who was demoted to the shadow minister for international development.[62] The most senior members of the shadow cabinet remained in their positions.[62] Rosena Allin-Khan, who was the shadow minister for mental health before the reshuffle, resigned from the Shadow Cabinet, criticising shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting's advocacy for outsourcing the NHS to the private sector.[64] She also said that Starmer did "not see a space for a mental health portfolio in a Labour cabinet".[65][66][67] The reshuffle coincided with the start of the tenure of Sue Gray as Starmer's new chief of staff.[8]

### Israel–Hamas war[edit]

During the Israel–Hamas war, Starmer has emphasised his support for Israel, stated he would favour military aid to the country, and described the actions of Hamas and other militants as "terrorism".[68][69]

In an interview with LBC on 11 October 2023, Starmer was asked whether it would be "appropriate" for Israel to totally cut off power and water supplies to Gaza, with Starmer replying that "I think that Israel does have that right" and that "obviously everything should be done within international law".[70] The Labour Muslim Network, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and Amnesty International described his comments as endorsing "collective punishment", which they said was a war crime.[71][72][73][74] PSC Director Ben Jamal called Starmer's stance on Israel "grotesque".[75] According to the Labour Muslim Network, over 250 Muslim Labour councillors have urged Starmer to call for an immediate ceasefire.[76] Starmer has said that a ceasefire would only benefit Hamas for future attacks, instead calling for a humanitarian pause to allow aid to reach Gaza.[77] On 20 October, Starmer clarified that he only meant that Israel should have the right to defend itself.[70][78]

As of 6 November, 50 of Labour's councillors had resigned over the issue.[79] The party also lost its majority on the Oxford City Council.[80][81][82] On 8 November, shadow minister for the New Deal for Working People, Imran Hussain resigned from the Labour front bench saying his support for a ceasefire in Gaza differed substantially from Starmer's.[77][83] Starmer has been accused of gaslighting those who have criticised him regarding his statements on the war and resigning Labour councillors accused him of supporting the collective punishment of those in Gaza.[84]

On 15 November 2023, Starmer suffered his largest defeat as leader when 56 of his MPs defied a three line whip to vote for a SNP motion to support a ceasefire in Gaza.[85] This included 10 frontbenchers; Jess Phillips, Naz Shah, Afzal Khan, Yasmin Qureshi, Sarah Owen, Rachel Hopkins, Andy Slaughter, Paula Barker, Mary Foy and Dan Carden.[86] Labour lost majority control of Burnley Council on 17 November when 11 councillors resigned because of Starmer's refusal to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.[87]

On 18 December 2023, Starmer followed Rishi Sunak in changing his stance by calling for a "sustainable ceasefire" in relation to the conflict in Gaza as part of a "two-stage solution".[88][89] On 14 January 2024, Starmer told The Jewish Chronicle that a future Labour government would not recognise a state of Palestine preemptively or unilaterally, rather than the previous policy that it would recognise a Palestinian state immediately, confirming a recommendations from the party's policy forum in October 2023. Recognition would be part of a multi-national peace process.[90]

In February 2024 at the Scottish Labour conference, Starmer called for a "ceasefire that lasts" which must "happen now".[91]

The Israel–Hamas war dominated the campaign in the 2024 Rochdale by-election. The winning candidate, George Galloway of the Workers Party of Britain won almost 40% of the vote and overturned a Labour majority of 9,668.[92] In his acceptance speech, Galloway said "Keir Starmer, this is for Gaza. You will pay a high price for the role that you have played in enabling, encouraging and covering for the catastrophe presently going on in occupied Gaza, in the Gaza Strip".[93][94][95] Labour had withdrawn support for their candidate Azhar Ali after comments he had made that were widely alleged to be anti-Semitic.[92][96] Starmer later apologised to the voters of Rochdale but insisted that it was the right decision to withdraw support.[96]

### Further resignations[edit]

Labour lost majority control of Norwich City Council when four councillors resigned on 28 November.[97] In December 2023, the Labour leader of Hastings Borough Council along with five other Labour Party councillors resigned from the party. In a statement the councillors said that the party did not provide the "policies, support or focus on local government".[98]

In April 2024, twenty Lancashire Labour Party councillors resigned from the party in protest of Starmer's leadership.[99]

## Leadership style[edit]

During his leadership of the Labour Party, Starmer has been accused of being authoritarian on civil liberties issues including not committing to overturn the Conservative Party's anti-protest bill.[100][101][102] Furthermore, Starmer has been accused of managing the party in an authoritarian manner.[101][103] Writing in the Middle East Eye, Peter Oborne and Richard Sanders described Starmer as having an "anti-democratic and above all illiberal" intolerance for dissent within the party.[104]

Under Keir Starmer the think tank Labour Together have been described as "crucial" to his "vision for government".[105]

In a review of Oliver Eagleton's The Starmer Project, Richard Seymour wrote "[t]o voters [Starmer] is a blur, more an artful flatterer than substantive presence in the political life of the nation, gently reheating Blairite dogmas rather than offering anything new". He described Starmer as "an ambitious centrist with an authoritarian streak, [who built] his leadership principally on the strength of having served under Corbyn and passionately advocated Remain" while crushing the hopes of Corbynism and "restor[ing] the establishment to power".[106]

## Public statements[edit]

In an interview with the i's Francis Elliott in December 2021, Starmer refused to characterise himself as a socialist, asking "What does that mean?" He added: "The Labour Party is a party that believes that we get the best from each other when we come together, collectively, and ensure that you know, we give people both opportunity and support as they needed."[107]

Starmer has advocated for a government based on "security, prosperity and respect". He has said he wants crime reduced, maintaining that "too many people do not feel safe in their streets". He also wants to see "repairing after the pandemic".[108] Starmer favours partnership between government and business, having said: "A political party without a clear plan for making sure businesses are successful and growing ... which doesn't want them to do well and make a profit ... has no hope of being a successful government."[109] In 2022 speeches, Starmer criticised the Conservative government and vowed to restore trust in government if he came to power.[108] He described the Labour Party as "deeply patriotic" and cited its most successful leaders, Clement Attlee, Harold Wilson, and Tony Blair, for policies "rooted in the everyday concerns of working people".[108]

In the 2020 Labour Party leadership election, Starmer ran on a pledge to renationalise rail, mail, water, and energy back into common ownership; this pledge has been dropped, while retaining commitments to the renationalisation of rail, and having pledged to create a publicly owned energy company, GB Energy, to "compete with private industry and promote clean energy".[110][111][112]

In 2021, Labour announced a spending pledge of £28 billion a year in climate change investment.[113] However, in June 2023, the pledge was scaled down before being scrapped on 8 February 2024.[113] Starmer defended the decision, saying that the policy was no longer affordable, adding that fiscal rules come first.[114][115] However, the move received significant criticism from green campaigners as well as the Unite union.[113]

### COVID-19[edit]

During the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, Starmer called for the government to publish an exit strategy outlining which parts of the economy and society would be prioritised once the government's tests for coming out of lockdown were met.[116] He said that the government had been "too slow to enter the lockdown", and called for an exit plan in a "careful, considered way with public health, scientific evidence and the safety of workers and families".[117] In June 2020, Starmer said he would support the government in "trying to do the right thing" when scrutinising the government's plans to ease lockdown restrictions.[118] On 16 August, he called for the government to reopen schools in September 2020, saying there were "no ifs, no buts, no equivocation" regarding the decision.[119]

Starmer made his first speech to the Labour Party Conference on 22 September 2020.[120] He attacked the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, calling it "serial incompetence" and suggesting that Johnson was "just not up to the job".[120] Labour unveiled "A New Leadership" as its slogan the day before the conference.[121] In October 2020, Starmer called for the government to introduce a "circuit-breaker" stay-at-home order for at least two weeks to reduce the impact of COVID-19 over the winter, which had been revealed to have been recommended by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies but not implemented by the government.[122] In December 2020, Starmer was criticised [by whom?] for failing to challenge white nationalist, Great Replacement conspiracy theories made by a caller when he was a guest on Nick Ferrari's programme on talk radio station LBC.[123][124]

### Foreign affairs[edit]

Starmer at a meeting with US Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi in September 2021

Starmer was previously an advocate for a second Brexit referendum after the process of the UK withdrawal from the EU was completed; in 2021, he ruled out a return to free movement with the EU or substantial renegotiation of the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement if Labour won the next UK general election.[125] By July 2022, Starmer confirmed that there was no case for the UK re-joining the EU and pledged to "make Brexit work".[126] He also committed to keeping the UK out of the single market, Customs Union, and free movement rules.[126] Of the United States as it transitioned from the presidency of Donald Trump to that of Joe Biden, he said: "I'm anti-Trump but I'm pro-American. And I'm incredibly optimistic about the new relationship we can build with President Biden." He argued that "Britain is at its strongest" when it is "the bridge between the US and the rest of Europe."[127]

During the prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Starmer held a meeting with NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg and said in an interview with the BBC that Corbyn was "wrong" to be a critic of NATO and that the Labour Party's commitment to the alliance was "unshakeable". He elaborated on this point that he felt it was "important for me to make clear that we stand united in the UK ... Whatever challenges we have with the [Boris Johnson's] government, when it comes to Russian aggression we stand together."[128] He said Russia should be hit with "widespread and hard-hitting" economic sanctions.[129] He also criticised the Stop the War Coalition in an opinion piece for The Guardian arguing that they were "not benign voices for peace" but rather "[a]t best they are naive, at worst they actively give succour to authoritarian leaders" such as Vladimir Putin "who directly threaten democracies."[130]

### Education[edit]

On education, Starmer, who benefited from a private school charity himself, vowed in 2021 to strip independent schools of their charitable status, a move that has been criticised by the Independent Schools Council,[131][132] and he repeated the pledge in July 2022.[133] The policy aimed to raise £1.7 billion to be spent on state schools.[131] In September 2023, Labour scrapped its plans to end the charitable status of private schools, while remaining committed to abolishing their VAT-exempt status. Labour claimed that ending charitable status was no longer necessary to abolishing this tax status.[134]

In May 2023, Starmer abandoned the pledge he made in his 2020 leadership campaign to get rid of tuition fees, while remaining committed to a "fairer" system of tuition fees.[135]

### National Health Service[edit]

On 15 January 2023, Starmer appeared on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, a BBC television programme. Despite having given a pledge to "end outsourcing in the NHS" during his campaign to become party leader, he told Laura Kuenssberg that expanded use of the private sector would be considered as he would "look at all sorts of reform" for the public health service. He maintained the public would not want a leader who "dogmatically insists that whatever was the position before can never change even when the circumstances have changed". Starmer maintained the private sector could help clear waiting lists.[136]

### Constitutional issues[edit]

Starmer among attendees at the Accession Council of King Charles III (2022)

Opposing Scottish independence and a second referendum on the subject, the Labour Party under Starmer's leadership has set up a constitutional convention to address what he describes as a belief among people across the UK that "decisions about me should be taken closer to me."[137][127] Starmer ruled out any potential coalition with the SNP at a local or national level.[138] Starmer is against the reunification of Ireland, having stated that he would be "very much on the side of Unionists" if there were to be a border poll.[139] Starmer wants to replace the House of Lords with an elected second chamber, Starmer maintains the Conservatives have too often given peerages to ‘lackeys and donors‘.[140] A report published by the Labour Party in December 2022 recommended further devolution of powers both in England and to the other nations of the United Kingdom.[141] The party has packaged some of these policies under the label "take back control", a slogan associated with the 2016 EU referendum.[142]

On 21 September 2022, it was announced that 370 Constituency Labour Partys (CLPs) had passed policy in favour of proportional representation, equating to approximately 60% of all CLPs in the UK.[143] On 26 September 2022, Labour Party members and trade unions voted in favour of ending the first-past-the-post electoral system and replacing it with a proportional electoral system at the Labour Party's annual conference in Liverpool.[144][145] However, the motion is not binding.[146] Starmer said that electoral reform is not a priority and ruled out putting electoral reform in the Labour Party's next election manifesto.[146]

### Labour's five missions[edit]

In a speech in Manchester on 23 February 2023, Starmer said he is already planning his second term as prime minister, and gave his list of five "national missions" as the basis for Labour's manifesto for the next election after which he expects to start his first term as prime minister. He would make the UK achieve fast, sustained economic growth. Starmer would make the UK a "clean energy superpower", by 2030 all UK electricity would be generated without fossil fuel. Starmer would improve the NHS and cut health inequalities. He would reform the judicial system and improve education standards.[147]

### Drug laws[edit]

Starmer has ruled out reforming UK drug laws by a Labour government under his leadership.[148] In 2021 he described the Conservative government's approach to drug policy as "roughly right".[149] Starmer argued that there was no case for decriminalising possession of cannabis because he has seen "too much of the damage that sits behind drugs".[150]

## Public opinion[edit]

### Election results[edit]

See also: 2021 United Kingdom local elections, 2022 United Kingdom local elections, and 2023 United Kingdom local elections

Starmer's 2020 approval graph

#### 2021[edit]

Starmer led the Labour Party into the 2021 local elections.[151] On 11 March, Starmer launched Labour's local election campaign, with Angela Rayner (Deputy Leader), Sadiq Khan (Mayor of London), Mark Drakeford (First Minister of Wales), Anas Sarwar (Scottish Labour leader), and Tracy Brabin (Mayor of West Yorkshire candidate) as speakers. The party focused its election priorities on giving nurses a pay rise.[152][153] This was during a period of popularity for the government in the wake of the COVID-19 vaccination programme; into the short campaign period, the Conservative Party started to develop a 6–7% poll lead on the Labour Party.[154][155]

Starmer was criticised for the Labour Party's failure to win the 2021 Hartlepool by-election. Hartlepool is part of the "red wall", a set of constituencies that historically supported the Labour Party but where the party is being challenged by increasing Conservative support.[156] The Labour Party candidate Paul Williams was a vocal advocate of a second referendum on EU membership; 70% of voters in the constituency of Hartlepool had voted to leave the EU, leading to criticism that Starmer had made the wrong decision in advocating for Williams to be selected as the candidate.[157][158] The Conservative candidate Jill Mortimer won the by-election with 51.9% of the vote and a swing from Labour of almost 16%.[159] It became only the second time since 1982 that the governing party gained a seat in a by-election,[159] and the first Conservative win in the constituency since its creation in 1974.[160]

At the local elections on 6 May 2021, the Labour Party lost 327 councillors and control of 8 councils. While it gained control of Mayor of the West of England and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority,[161] the Labour Party failed to take the position of Mayor of the West Midlands.[162] The party won a net equal number of police and crime commissioners.[163][161] Elections also took place to the devolved Scottish Parliament and Senedd. In the 2021 Senedd election, Labour equalled its best ever result, falling one seat short of an overall majority, which has never been achieved in that institution,[164] which the BBC reporter Adrian Browne credited to Mark Drakeford and approval of his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wales.[165] In the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, the party achieved its worst ever result at a Holyrood election, winning just 22 seats, two less than in 2016.[164] In July, Labour won the 2021 Batley and Spen by-election and held the seat, a result that was considered to have taken some pressure off Starmer's leadership.[166]

#### 2022[edit]

The 2022 local elections on 5 May took place during a more difficult period for the government, which was facing problems such as Partygate and a cost of living crisis.[167][168] The Labour Party made gains across Great Britain winning by far the largest number of seats overall.[169] Some on the British left claimed that Labour had underperformed in comparison with smaller parties.[170] In December 2022, Labour held both the City of Chester and Stretford and Urmston in by-elections with an increased margin for Labour.[171][172] The result in Chester was the party's best-ever result in the seat.

#### 2023[edit]

The 2023 local elections on 4 May saw significant losses for the government, which lost over 1,000 council seats.[173] The Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party of England and Wales all made gains, with Labour becoming the party with most members elected to local government for the first time since 2002.[174] With Labour gaining over 500 seats, Starmer claimed that the election sets the party "on course for a Labour majority at the next general election".[173]

In July 2023, Labour gained the Selby and Ainsty constituency from the Conservatives during a by-election with Labour overturning the Conservatives' 20,000 majority with a swing of 23.7%.[175] On the same night, Labour finished second in Boris Johnson's former seat in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election by 495 votes.[175] The party leadership blamed this defeat on the planned expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone to outer London.[175]

On 19 October, Labour gained two seats in by-elections in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire in some of the largest swings from the Conservatives since the prelude to the 1945 general election.[176]

#### 2024[edit]

In February 2024, Labour gained two seats from the Conservatives in by-elections in Wellingborough and Kingswood.[177] The Wellingborough by-election saw a swing of 28.5% which was the second highest swing from the Conservatives to Labour in a by-election since 1945.[177] Labour lost the seat of Rochdale in a by-election to the Workers Party of Britain candidate George Galloway. Galloway won almost 40% of the vote and overturned a Labour majority of 9,668 with Labour finishing 4th in the contest.[178][96] Labour had withdrawn support for their candidate Azhar Ali after comments he had made that were widely alleged to be anti-Semitic.[92][96] Starmer later apologised to the voters of Rochdale but insisted that it was the right decision to withdraw support.[96]

### Opinion polls[edit]

See also: Opinion polling for the next United Kingdom general election

Since the end of 2021, Labour consistently polled ahead of the Conservatives as the governments under prime ministers Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak were affected by issues such as the cost of living crisis, the July 2022 government crisis, the September 2022 mini-budget, the October 2022 government crisis, and the industrial disputes.[179][180] By mid-October 2022, Labour were recording polling leads such as 36% against the Conservatives according to Redfield & Wilton.[181]

Overview of opinion polling for the Next United Kingdom general election since the 2019 general election.

## Party management[edit]

### EHRC report, exclusion of Corbyn and antisemitism reforms[edit]

In October 2020, following the release of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)'s report into antisemitism in the party, Starmer accepted its findings in full and apologised to Jews on behalf of the party.[182][183] The report said that there was "a culture within the party which, at best, did not do enough to prevent antisemitism and, at worst, could be seen to accept it".[184] The report also found that the party had broken equality laws due to the handling of antisemitism complaints.[184] Starmer added that the findings were "hard to read" and that it had "been a day of shame for the Labour Party".[184]

Later that day, Jeremy Corbyn stated that "the scale of the problem was also dramatically overstated for political reasons".[185] He was later suspended over his response to the report.[185] Some on the left of the party called for Corbyn's suspension to be lifted.[186] On 14 November 2022, it was reported that the leadership of the Labour Party would not restore the whip to Corbyn, preventing him from standing for election on behalf of the Labour Party.[187] This led to speculation Corbyn could stand for election as the Mayor of London or in his current parliamentary constituency as an independent candidate, in opposition to Labour.[188][189] In March 2023, Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC) voted 22 to 12 on a motion from Starmer to prevent the Labour Party from endorsing Corbyn as a candidate for the party at the next general election.[53][190]

In February 2023, Starmer's antisemitism reforms resulted in the party no longer being monitored by the EHRC.[191]

After having previously resigned from the party in February 2019 citing the handling of antisemitism allegations in the party, former Labour MP Luciana Berger rejoined in February 2023.[184] Berger accepted an apology from Starmer, adding that the party had "turned a significant corner".[184]

### 2021 party governance changes[edit]

In the run up to Labour's conference in September 2021, the party announced plans to reform its governance structure with changes including the return of its older electoral college which would give MPs, members and trade unions a third of the vote each in future leadership elections.[192] Starmer's spokespeople said that this was a way to strengthen the party's link with the trade union movement but commentators described the changes as an attempt to increase the power of MPs and trade unions at the expense of the general membership, along with being a symbolic act to draw a distinction between Starmer and Corbyn.[193][192]

Starmer gave up on the electoral college after it failed to gain the support of trade unions;[194] the party's executive committee agreed to send a series of more modest reforms to conference, including increasing the percentage of Labour MPs a candidate would need the support of to get on the leadership election ballot, banning the party's newest members from voting, and making it harder for members to deselect MPs.[195] These changes were later passed by a small margin.[196][197] The Bakers, Food and Allied Workers' Union voted to end its affiliation to Labour dating back to early in the party's history, commenting that it had "travelled away from the aims and hopes of working-class organisations like ours" under Starmer's leadership.[198]

### Forde Report[edit]

In April 2020, an internal party report on antisemitism (The Work of the Labour Party’s Governance and Legal Unit in Relation to Anti-semitism, 2014–2019) was leaked.[199][200] It was made during the end of Corbyn's leadership, intended for submission to the EHRC, and dated March 2020.[201] It detailed that there was a tangible issue with antisemitism in the party, but factional hostility to Corbyn hampered efforts to tackle it.[202] In January 2023, it was reported that the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) were not going to take action against the Corbyn-supporting authors of the report, which leaked with unredacted confidential information, and that the Labour Party would pursue a civil case against them.[203][204][205] This internal report led to the Forde Report.[206][205]

On 17 July 2022, the Forde Report was published, having been commissioned by Starmer at the beginning of his leadership.[207][208] It described how groups within Labour had sought to hinder Corbyn while leader of the Labour Party and said that during his leadership it broke into factions which supported or opposed him, though this factionalism had decreased since Starmer took leadership.[207][209] The report said that groups within the party who were in support and opposition to Corbyn both sought to use allegations of antisemitism in the party during his leadership to further their political interests.[208][210] The report detailed bullying, racism, and sexism within the party.[211][212]

The report also said many of those within the party from whom it gathered evidence were concerned the party operated a "hierarchy of racism or of discrimination", with more resources being allocated to investigate claims of antisemitism, amid their surge and political importance, compared to other forms of discrimination.[211][213][214] Starmer was criticised for his lack of response to the report and the problems within the party that it highlighted, in particular anti-black racism.[215][216]

### Election candidate selection process controversy[edit]

With the Labour Party needing to gain many new seats if they are to win the next election, and with at least a dozen of their standing MPs planning to stand down before the next election, by early November 2022, the party had started the selection process for the new candidates they will need.[217][218]

In October and November 2022, Starmer was accused of designing and using Labour's new selection process for parliamentary candidates to prevent Corbyn-supporting, left-wing, or disloyal prospective MPs from being able to stand at the next general election.[219] [220][221]

Party members who supported Jeremy Corbyn, the party's previous leader, are saying that under Starmer's leadership, they are being targeted for exclusion by the selection process.[217] Under the selection system, step one is to get onto a 'longlist', which will then be refined down to a 'shortlist'. BBC News says that unnamed potential candidates have said that party employees are being "tasked" to search their online activities for reasons to keep them off the 'longlist'.[217] One unnamed Labour MP from the left of the party said of the party leadership that they were "drunk on power" and that they went "beyond anything from the Blair years".[217] The party defended this activity saying it was for quality control purposes. John McTernan, a former advisor for Tony Blair, supported the activity, saying Labour needs to return "good MPs" with "mainstream Labour values" for the coming election adding that under Corbyn, too much "flotsam and jetsam" became Labour MPs. A Labour representative said "Due diligence is about weeding out candidates who could cause electoral damage".[217]

On 13 November 2022, The Guardian said that under Starmer, the way the selection panel has "exerted tight control" over how candidates are selected for shortlisting had become "extraordinary".[222] Starmer "allies" say that selection vetting needs to be tougher as there has recently been a lot of MPs "suspended, arrested or [...] embarrassed for ill-advised tweets".[222] The Guardian added that the measures often appear to be factional even though previous scandals have not solely involved candidates from the party's left.[222] The co-chair of Momentum, Hilary Schan, said how times were hard for the left in the Labour party, amid the "controversy over party selections" in which candidates from the left-wing of the party were "excluded from shortlists".[223] New Statesman credits Starmer's campaign director, Morgan McSweeney, with the idea of "marginalising left-wingers" using a more stringent selection process.[220] In 2023, the paper went on to rank McSweeney as the third most influential left wing figure in the UK, describing him as Starmer's "most trusted aide".[224]

On 27 January 2023, HuffPost reported that after an encounter with the leaders of Scottish Labour and Welsh Labour, Starmer had "been forced into a U-turn" over the candidate selection process.[225] Scotland's Anas Sarwar and Wales's Mark Drakeford were said to be "frustrated" for not being consulted over the idea of imposing the process used in England on the Scottish and Welsh branches of the party.[225] Following the exchange, it is reported that it was agreed that any new process would have to be agreed jointly.[225] The fear of the proposed English system was that it was designed to prioritise candidates close to the leadership, and to block candidates on the left of the party, thus be used to “stitch up” the candidate shortlists. Starmer's aides characterised the English checks as being used to weed out candidates who may be unsuitable to stand for parliament or who may risk damaging the party’s reputation.[225]

### Party membership numbers and finances[edit]

Starmer inherited a party membership of 552,835 when he replaced Jeremy Corbyn as leader in April 2020. By the time of the NEC vote seven months later, that had dropped by 56,874, more than 10%, to 495,961, but still the largest of any UK party.[226][227]

By the end of 2021, membership had fallen to 432,213, a drop of more than 21% since Starmer became leader,[228] but still more than double the membership of the Conservative Party.[229] Momentum, a left-wing campaign group, said Starmer's "factional" leadership was to blame as it alienated trade unions.[229] Starmer dismissed this, saying it followed the pattern of membership going up before an election and flattening off again after.[229] Labour therefore made a £5 million loss in 2021 leading to some staff redundancies with the loss in membership fees as well as ongoing legal battles with former staff being key factors for this loss.[228][230] In July 2023, it was revealed that the party's membership had fallen further to 399,195.[231]

By the second quarter of 2022, the Labour Party received more than £10.4 million including a £3 million donation from supermarket baron David Sainsbury and a £2.2 million donation from business tycoon Gary Lubner.[232] Labour also received £2.7 million from public donations and trade unions.[232]

## See also[edit]

* Keir Starmer
* Labour Party leadership of Jeremy Corbyn – Starmer's predecessor in the role
* History of the Labour Party (UK)
* Labour Party (UK)

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Labour losses in 2019 election 'felt like slowest slap in the face'". BBC News. 12 December 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
2. ^ a b "Factbox - Final results of Britain's election: PM Johnson wins big majority". Reuters. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
3. ^ Chris Curtis (23 December 2019). "In their own words: why voters abandoned Labour". YouGov. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
4. ^ "Jeremy Corbyn: 'I will not lead Labour at next election'". BBC News. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
5. ^ "General election 2019: Blair attacks Corbyn's 'comic indecision' on Brexit". BBC News. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
6. ^ Sir John Curtice (13 December 2019). "General Election 2019: What's behind the Conservative victory?". BBC News. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
7. ^ a b c "General election 2019: Labour leadership takes blame over result". BBC News. 15 December 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
8. ^ a b Ione Wells (4 September 2023). "Labour reshuffle: Sir Keir Starmer to shake up shadow cabinet". BBC News. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
9. ^ "Keir Starmer enters Labour leadership contest". BBC. 4 January 2020. Archived from the original on 4 January 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
10. ^ "Labour leadership winner: Sir Keir Starmer". BBC News. 4 April 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
11. ^ "Labour leadership: Unison endorses Sir Keir Starmer". BBC News. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
12. ^ a b "Labour leadership winner: Sir Keir Starmer". BBC News. 4 April 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
13. ^ Mason, Rowena (3 March 2020). "Keir Starmer challenged to publish all campaign donations". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
14. ^ Cowburn, Ashley (29 February 2020). "Labour leadership: Jeremy Corbyn urges frontrunner Keir Starmer to publish major donations to his campaign". Independent. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
15. ^ "Leaderhip Elections 2020 Results". The Labour Party. Archived from the original on 4 April 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
16. ^ "Keir Starmer Elected as new Labour leader". 4 April 2020. Archived from the original on 25 April 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
17. ^ Duffy, Nick (4 April 2020). "Sir Keir Starmer statement in full: New Labour leader vows to 'engage constructively' with government on coronavirus". inews. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
18. ^ "Ed Miliband returns to Labour top team". BBC News. 6 April 2020. Archived from the original on 20 April 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
19. ^ Pollard, Alexandra (25 June 2020). "We are being ruled by capitalist, fascist dictators". Independent. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020 - via Pressreader.com.
20. ^ "Long-Bailey sacked for sharing 'anti-Semitic article'". BBC News. 25 June 2020. Archived from the original on 1 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
21. ^ "Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer sacks Rebecca Long-Bailey over 'antisemitic conspiracy theory' article". Sky News. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
22. ^ Heather Stewart (26 June 2020). "Starmer faces backlash from leftwing MPs over Long-Bailey sacking". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
23. ^ Walker, Peter (25 June 2020). "Keir Starmer sacks Rebecca Long-Bailey from shadow cabinet". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
24. ^ Pollard, Alexandra (25 June 2020). "Maxine Peake: 'People who couldn't vote Labour because of Corbyn? They voted Tory as far as I'm concerned'". Independent. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
25. ^ "Kate Green appointed as shadow education secretary". BBC News. 27 June 2020. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
26. ^ "Three Labour MPs lose roles after voting against overseas operations bill". The Guardian. 23 September 2020. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
27. ^ Heffer, Greg (16 October 2020). "Sir Keir Starmer hit by series of Labour resignations over Covert Human Intelligence Sources Bill". Sky News. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
28. ^ "Angela Rayner sacked as Labour Party chair by Sir Keir Starmer, Sky News understands". Sky News. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
29. ^ Bush, Stephen (8 May 2021). "Keir Starmer's sacking of Angela Rayner is self-destructive, stupid and wrong". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
30. ^ Casalicchio, Emilio (8 May 2021). "UK Labour descends into civil war after dismal election results". Politico. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
31. ^ Britton, Paul (9 May 2021). "Andy Burnham 'can't support' the sacking of Angela Rayner as Labour chairman". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
32. ^ Bush, Stephen (10 May 2021). "Keir Starmer's first shadow cabinet reshuffle is a bigger gamble than many realise". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
33. ^ Zeffman, Henry; Maguire, Patrick; Courea, Eleni; Wright, Oliver (11 May 2021). "Keir Starmer's aide Carolyn Harris resigns amid accusations of spreading rumours about Angela Rayner". The Times. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
34. ^ Mosalski, Ruth (11 May 2021). "Carolyn Harris resigns as aide for Labour leader Keir Starmer amid allegations of spreading rumours". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
35. ^ Stewart, Heather (14 May 2021). "Keir Starmer appoints northern MP to build bridges with backbenchers". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
36. ^ "Yvette Cooper returns as Starmer reshuffles his shadow cabinet". The Independent. 29 November 2021. Archived from the original on 29 November 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
37. ^ "Yvette Cooper Makes Labour Frontbench Comeback After Keir Starmer Reshuffles Top Team". Politics Home. 29 November 2021. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
38. ^ Kuenssberg, Laura (29 November 2021). "Labour reshuffle: Starmer aims to combine experience and youth". BBC News. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
39. ^ Peston, Robert (29 November 2021). "Keir Starmer chooses the Labour team he actually rates". ITV News. Archived from the original on 26 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
40. ^ Bush, Stephen (29 November 2021). "Keir Starmer's new-look shadow cabinet is less than the sum of its parts". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
41. ^ Walker, Peter (24 February 2022). "Labour MPs drop backing for statement criticising Nato after Starmer warning". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
42. ^ Cowburn, Ashley (25 February 2022). "Labour MPs withdraw from anti-Nato statement after threat to lose whip". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
43. ^ Chappell, Elliot (25 March 2022). "Young Labour Twitter account restricted for being 'detrimental' to Labour aims". LabourList. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
44. ^ "Does Starmer support MPs who backed Stop The War?". BBC News. Archived from the original on 23 March 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
45. ^ Atkin, Elizabeth (29 June 2022). "What strikes could be happening in 2022? Latest news and dates". Metro. Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
46. ^ Smythe, Polly (21 July 2022). "This summer's strikes are already working – unions, set your sights even higher". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 29 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
47. ^ Walker, Peter (28 July 2022). "Why has Keir Starmer picked battle over shadow ministers on picket lines?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 29 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
48. ^ "Rail strike: Labour MPs defy Keir Starmer's picket line plea". BBC News. 21 June 2022. Archived from the original on 28 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
49. ^ "'Don't tell Starmer': Labour MPs join picket lines after leader bans frontbench". ITV News. 21 June 2022. Archived from the original on 29 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
50. ^ "Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer says he sacked shadow minister for making up policy 'on the hoof' at picket line". Sky News. Archived from the original on 29 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
51. ^ Meade, Aimee (29 July 2022). "Sam Tarry: It is a dereliction of duty for Starmer and Labour MPs to not join picket lines". i. Archived from the original on 29 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
52. ^ "Shadow ministers question Labour's stance on strikes after Tarry sacking". The Guardian. 27 July 2022. Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
53. ^ a b c d e Sam Francis & David Wallace Lockhart (28 April 2023). "Keir Starmer denies targeting Labour left-wingers after Abbott suspended". BBC News. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
54. ^ a b c Jemma Crew & Helen Catt (23 April 2023). "Diane Abbott suspended as Labour MP after racism letter". BBC News. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
55. ^ a b Allegretti, Aubrey (30 June 2023). "Compass chief says he faces Labour expulsion and attacks party 'tyranny'". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
56. ^ Helm, Toby (1 July 2023). "'Rightwing, illiberal': Labour MP Jon Cruddas condemns Keir Starmer's 'witch-hunt'". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
57. ^ "Labour reshuffle: Sir Keir Starmer to shake up shadow cabinet". BBC News. 3 September 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
58. ^ Elizabeth Piper (4 September 2023). "UK's opposition Labour leader reshuffles top team before election". Reuters. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
59. ^ Pippa Crerar and Peter Walker (4 September 2023). "Angela Rayner named shadow levelling up secretary in Labour reshuffle". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
60. ^ McDonald, Andrew (4 September 2023). "UK Labour reshuffle: The winners and losers in Keir Starmer's shake-up". Politico. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
61. ^ Crerar, Pippa (4 September 2023). "Starmer promotes Blairites as Labour thoughts turn to governing". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
62. ^ a b c Paul Seddon (4 September 2023). "Angela Rayner handed new role as Keir Starmer reshuffles top team". BBC News. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
63. ^ Belger, Tom (5 September 2023). "'Labour's shadow cabinet reshuffle: Not everything is as clear as it looks'". LabourList. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
64. ^ Fisher, Andrew (4 September 2023). "The Labour reshuffle leaves Starmer surrounded by yes-men". i. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
65. ^ Jarvis, Chris (4 September 2023). "'You do not see a space for a mental health portfolio in a Labour cabinet': Rosena Allin-Khan resigns from Labour frontbench". Left Foot Forward. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
66. ^ Keane, Daniel (4 September 2023). "Shadow mental health minister resigns with swipe at Keir Starmer". Evening Standard. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
67. ^ Barradale, Greg. "Shadow mental health minister's resignation sends 'worrying message' about Keir Starmer's Labour". The Big Issue. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
68. ^ "UK Labour leader Starmer: Israel must always have right to defend itself". Reuters. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
69. ^ MacInnes, Paul; Steinberg, Jacob (11 October 2023). "FA will announce plans to honour Israel victims before England friendly". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
70. ^ a b "Keir Starmer facing pressure over Gaza stance". BBC News. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
71. ^ Andrew Sparrow (11 October 2023). "Labour will ignore local opposition if it has to deliver more homes, says Starmer – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
72. ^ "Israel-Palestine war: Labour Muslims condemn Starmer for backing 'collective punishment'". Middle East Eye. 11 October 2023.
73. ^ Tahir, Tariq (11 October 2023). "Keir Starmer suggests it is acceptable for Israel to withhold power and water from Gaza". The National.
74. ^ "Sir Keir condemned for defending Israeli government's 'right' to cut off water and food to people in Gaza". Morning Star. 11 October 2023.
75. ^ "Starmer's comments on Israel withholding water from Gaza are 'grotesque', Palestinian activist says". The Independent. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
76. ^ Tom Belger (25 October 2023). "Israel-Gaza: Read 250 Muslim councillors' letter to Starmer backing ceasefire". LabourList. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
77. ^ a b Wells, Ione; Cooney, Christy (8 November 2023). "Imran Hussain: Shadow minister quits Labour front bench over Gaza". BBC News. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
78. ^ Rogers, Alexandra (20 October 2023). "Sir Keir Starmer seeks to clarify Gaza remarks following backlash from Labour councillors". Sky News. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
79. ^ Rashid, Inzamam (6 November 2023). "11 councillors quit Labour over stance on ceasefire in Gaza - after calling for Sir Keir Starmer to resign". Sky News. Retrieved 4 February 2024. "It brings the number of councillors to have resigned from Labour to 50"
80. ^ "Labour loses majority on Oxford City Council after ninth resignation". BBC News. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
81. ^ Pidd, Helen (16 October 2023). "Labour councillors quit party in protest at Keir Starmer's Israel stance". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
82. ^ Soni, Darshna (21 October 2023). "More than 20 Labour councillors resign following Starmer's Israel comment". Channel 4 News. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
83. ^ Chris Mason (9 November 2023). "Hussain departure makes things awkward for Labour frontbench". BBC News. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
84. ^ Neame, Katie; Belger, Tom (24 October 2023). "Quitting councillors accuse Starmer of 'gaslighting' critics over Gaza stance". LabourList. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
85. ^ "Keir Starmer suffers major Labour rebellion over Gaza ceasefire vote". BBC News. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
86. ^ Adu, Aletha (15 November 2023). "Who are the Labour MPs that defied Keir Starmer over a Gaza ceasefire?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
87. ^ Khan, Shuiab (17 November 2023). "Labour loses control of council as Independents form new coalition". Yahoo News. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
88. ^ Walker, Peter (18 December 2023). "Keir Starmer joins Rishi Sunak in calling for sustainable ceasefire in Gaza". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
89. ^ "Politics latest news: Starmer follows Sunak's lead in calling for 'sustainable' Gaza ceasefire". The Daily Telegraph. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
90. ^ Prinsley, Jane (15 January 2024). "Keir Starmer drops Corbyn-era policy on Palestinian statehood". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
91. ^ Francis, Sam (18 February 2024). "Sir Keir Starmer calls for Gaza 'ceasefire that lasts'". BBC News. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
92. ^ a b c Grunewald, Zoe (1 March 2024). "George Galloway wins Rochdale by-election after Labour fiasco and declares: 'This is for Gaza'". Yahoo News. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
93. ^ Halliday, Josh; Ahmed, Aneesa (1 March 2024). "George Galloway wins sweeping victory in Rochdale byelection, saying 'this is for Gaza'". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
94. ^ "Residents of Rochdale caught up in increasingly toxic by-election campaign". Financial Times. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
95. ^ Halliday, Josh; Ahmed, Aneesa (1 March 2024). "George Galloway wins Rochdale byelection after calling for Gaza protest vote". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
96. ^ a b c d e "Rochdale by-election: Keir Starmer apologises to voters after George Galloway win". BBC News. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
97. ^ Thompson, George (28 November 2023). "Labour loses control of Norwich City Council after four resign". BBC. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
98. ^ Wright, Charlotte; Lee, Shola (15 December 2023). "Hastings Borough Council: Leader and five other councillors quit Labour". BBC News. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
99. ^ Pollitt, Stuart (1 April 2024). "Twenty Lancashire councillors quit Labour in leadership protest". BBC News. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
100. ^ Blackburn, Tom (28 May 2023). "Keir Starmer Is Keeping New Labour's Authoritarianism Alive". Jacobin. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
101. ^ a b Blackburn, Tom (26 May 2023). "New Labour's Authoritarianism Is Back". Tribune. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
102. ^ "Keir Starmer, Reform UK and Britain's populist paradox". The Economist. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
103. ^ Fletcher, Simon (9 October 2023). "'Keir Starmer's Authoritarian Approach to Politics Risks Stifling a Labour Government'". Byline Times. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
104. ^ Oborne, Peter; Sanders, Richard (26 September 2023). "UK Labour: Why Starmer's growing authoritarianism should be ringing alarm bells". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
105. ^ Courea, Eleni (25 October 2023). "Meet the Labour think tank guiding Keir Starmer's path to power". Politico. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
106. ^ Seymour, Richard (28 April 2022). "Tell us who you really are, Keir Starmer". New Statesman. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
107. ^ Elliott, Francis (16 December 2021). "Voters are no longer prepared to give Boris Johnson the benefit of the doubt, says Sir Keir Starmer". inews.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
108. ^ a b c "Sir Keir Starmer seeks to cement Labour opinion poll lead in speech". BBC News. 4 January 2021. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
109. ^ Mason, Rowena (23 February 2022). "Starmer: Labour will partner with private sector and take advantage of Brexit". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 March 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
110. ^ Brown, Mark; Stewart, Heather (25 July 2022). "Starmer says he won't be 'ideological' amid renationalisation row". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 29 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
111. ^ "Labour commits to bringing railways back into public ownership". The Independent. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
112. ^ "Labour conference votes to nationalise energy". BBC News. 9 October 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
113. ^ a b c Chris Mason and Paul Seddon (8 February 2024). "Keir Starmer: Labour ditches £28bn green investment pledge". BBC News. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
114. ^ Paul Seddon (8 February 2024). "Keir Starmer defends Labour U-turn on £28bn green spending". BBC News. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
115. ^ Kiran Stacey and Fiona Harvey (8 February 2024). "Labour cuts £28bn green investment pledge by half". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
116. ^ "Keir Starmer to urge government to outline lockdown exit plan". Financial Times. 29 April 2020. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
117. ^ "'My colleagues need PPE delivered to the front line,' warns NHS medical director". The Telegraph. 18 April 2020. Archived from the original on 4 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
118. ^ "Coronavirus: Keir Starmer welcomes lockdown easing". BBC News. 23 June 2020. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
119. ^ "Coronavirus: Parents to be told schools safe for September return". BBC. 16 August 2020. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
120. ^ a b "Keir Starmer: Labour must 'get serious about winning'". BBC News. 22 September 2020. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
121. ^ "Labour Party: Starmer aims to build trust with 'new leadership' slogan". BBC News. 18 September 2020. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
122. ^ Stewart, Heather; Halliday, Josh; Pidd, Helen (13 October 2020). "Keir Starmer urges PM to impose 'circuit breaker' lockdown on England". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
123. ^ Lothian-McLean, Moya (15 December 2020). "Keir Starmer is a wet wipe". gal-dem. Archived from the original on 19 December 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
124. ^ Pinder, Reuben (14 December 2021). "Keir Starmer criticised for failing to call out white supremacist myth on LBC". JOE.co.uk. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
125. ^ "Starmer: No case for rejoining EU or major renegotiation of trade deal". Yahoo News. 10 January 2021. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
126. ^ a b "Brexit: No case for UK returning to EU, Labour leader Starmer says". BBC News. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
127. ^ a b Rea, Ailbhe (16 January 2021). "Keir Starmer opens up on foreign policy and conversations with Barack Obama". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
128. ^ "Jeremy Corbyn was wrong on Nato, says Sir Keir Starmer". BBC News. 10 February 2022. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
129. ^ "Johnson hints German reliance on Russian gas could affect Ukraine response". The Guardian. 25 January 2022. Archived from the original on 18 February 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
130. ^ Stewart, Heather (10 February 2022). "Keir Starmer accuses Stop the War coalition of siding with Nato's enemies". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
131. ^ a b "Tax private schools to raise £1.7bn for state education, Sir Keir Starmer says". ITV News. 26 September 2021. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
132. ^ Turner, Camilla (28 January 2023). "Exclusive: 'Hypocrite' Keir Starmer benefited from private school charity". The Telegraph.
133. ^ Lough, Catherine (11 July 2022). "Sir Keir Starmer vows to end charitable status for private schools". Independent. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
134. ^ Barradale, Greg; Mcare, Isabelle (28 September 2023). "All of Keir Starmer's u-turns and abandoned policy pledges, from child benefits to private schools". Big Issue. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
135. ^ Seddon, Paul (2 May 2023). "Labour set to ditch pledge for free university tuition, Starmer says". BBC News. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
136. ^ Longford, Eleanor (15 January 2023). "Keir Starmer Warns NHS Faces "Managed Decline" Without "All Sorts Of Reform"". PoliticsHome.
137. ^ Morris, Nigel (10 January 2021). "Why Keir Starmer has changed his mind over free movement – and doesn't want to rejoin the EU". i. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
138. ^ "Starmer: No deal with SNP under any circumstances". BBC News. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
139. ^ Nutt, Kathleen (11 July 2021). "Keir Starmer would campaign against a United Ireland". The National. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
140. ^ Keir Starmer: I will abolish House of Lords to ‘restore trust in politics’ The Observer
141. ^ "Labour promise biggest ever transfer of powers". BBC News. 5 December 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
142. ^ "Keir Starmer embraces Brexit slogan with 'take back control' pledge". BBC News. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
143. ^ "PR biggest issue at conference again". labourforanewdemocracy.org.uk. Labour for a New Democracy. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022. "370 CLPs - about 60% of all the CLPs in the country - now have policy in favour of PR. With a majority of affiliated unions in favour of electoral reform, we're excited about what this could mean in Liverpool."
144. ^ "Labour backs Proportional Representation". labourforanewdemocracy.org.uk. Labour for a New Democracy. 26 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
145. ^ Cowan, Doug (27 September 2022). "Labour Party conference backs proportional representation". electoral-reform.org.uk. Electoral Reform Society. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
146. ^ a b Savage, Michael; Helm, Toby (24 September 2022). "Keir Starmer defies call for changes to first past the post voting system". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
147. ^ Keir Starmer: Labour already planning second term in government The Guardian
148. ^ Malik, Paul (21 October 2021). "Starmer rules out reform of UK drug laws under Labour". PressReader. The Press and Journal. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
149. ^ Whitehead, Joanna (21 February 2021). "Sir Keir Starmer says he opposes relaxing drugs laws and insists he is 'proud' to be patriotic". i news. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
150. ^ Ethan Shone (22 February 2021). "Labour leader Keir Starmer says he doesn't support decriminalising cannabis - but experts don't agree". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
151. ^ "Sir Keir Starmer says he will take responsibility for Labour election results". BBC News. 4 May 2021. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
152. ^ Craig, Jon (11 March 2021). "Vote Labour to 'support our nurses,' says Starmer in Labour campaign launch for local elections". Sky News. Archived from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
153. ^ "English local elections: Starmer targets NHS pay in Labour launch". BBC News. 11 March 2021. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
154. ^ Ridge, Sophy (1 May 2021). "Is 'vaccine bounce' proving a shot in the arm for Boris Johnson amid growing sleaze row?". Sky News. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
155. ^ Walker, Peter (15 March 2021). "Tories could benefit from 'vaccine bounce' in May's local elections in England". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 15 March 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
156. ^ "Labour fears of losing Hartlepool grow ahead of 'defining' red wall by-election". The Independent. 21 March 2021. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
157. ^ McGuinness, Alan (18 March 2021). "Dr Paul Williams announced as Labour's candidate for Hartlepool by-election after resignation of Mike Hill". Sky News. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
158. ^ Courea, Eleni (22 March 2021). "Keir Starmer rebukes Labour's Hartlepool by-election candidate". The Times. Archived from the original on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
159. ^ a b "Labour crashes to humiliating byelection defeat in Hartlepool". The Guardian. 7 May 2021. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
160. ^ "Elections 2021: Conservatives hail historic Labour defeat in Hartlepool by-election". BBC News. 7 May 2021. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
161. ^ a b "England local elections 2021 – BBC News". BBC News. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
162. ^ "Elections 2021: Andy Street stays as West Midlands mayor". BBC News. 8 May 2021. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
163. ^ "Welsh Parliament election 2021". BBC News. Archived from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
164. ^ a b "May 2021 election results: the maps, charts and data of how your area voted across the UK". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021 - via MSN.
165. ^ Browne, Adrian (8 May 2021). "Welsh election results 2021: What's the secret behind Labour's success?". BBC News. Archived from the original on 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
166. ^ Watson, Iain (2 July 2021). "Batley and Spen: How Labour held on – and what it means for Sir Keir Starmer". BBC News. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
167. ^ "Local elections 2022: a visual guide on what to expect in England, Scotland and Wales". The Guardian. 18 April 2022. Archived from the original on 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
168. ^ Zeffman, Henry. "Local elections 2022: What are the key battlegrounds?". The Times. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
169. ^ "Election results 2022: How the parties performed in maps and charts". BBC News. 7 May 2022. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
170. ^ "The local elections show Keir Starmer needs to raise his game". New Statesman. 6 May 2022. Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
171. ^ "Labour's Samantha Dixon wins Chester by-election with increased 11,000 margin over Tories". Sky News. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
172. ^ "Stretford and Urmston by-election: Time for a Labour government, says Starmer after win". BBC News. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
173. ^ a b "Local elections 2023: In maps and charts". BBC News. 9 May 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
174. ^ "England local election results 2023". BBC News. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
175. ^ a b c Sam Francis (21 July 2023). "By-elections: Labour scents power but Sunak says it's not a done deal". BBC News. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
176. ^ Bulbul, Nuray (20 October 2023). "These are the biggest by-election swings of all time". Evening Standard. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
177. ^ a b Morton, Becky; Geiger, Chas; Whannel, Kate (16 February 2024). "Wellingborough and Kingswood by-elections: More to do despite wins, says Keir Starmer". BBC News. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
178. ^ Grunewald, Zoe (1 March 2024). "George Galloway wins Rochdale by-election after Labour fiasco and declares: 'This is for Gaza'". Yahoo News. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
179. ^ Beth Mann (21 October 2022). "Britons now think that Labour will win a majority at the next election". YouGov. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
180. ^ Stone, John (17 August 2022). "Labour loses nearly 100,000 members and makes £5 million loss in 2021". Independent.
181. ^ Jon Stone (17 October 2022). "Tories facing wipeout as Labour takes 36-point lead in new poll". The Independent. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
182. ^ Walker, Peter (29 October 2020). "Keir Starmer: EHRC antisemitism report is day of shame for Labour". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
183. ^ Syal, Rajeev (29 October 2020). "Antisemitism in Labour: what did the report find and what happens next". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
184. ^ a b c d e "Luciana Berger rejoins Labour Party after antisemitism apology". BBC News. 26 February 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
185. ^ a b "Jeremy Corbyn suspended from Labour Party over antisemitism report reaction". Sky News. 29 October 2020. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
186. ^ Sabbagh, Dan; Elgot, Jessica (29 October 2020). "Labour's left calls for Jeremy Corbyn's suspension to be lifted". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
187. ^ Adu, Aletha; Crerar, Pippa; Elgot, Jessica (14 November 2022). "Jeremy Corbyn will never stand for Labour again, say senior figures". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
188. ^ Rogers, Alexandra (15 November 2022). "Jeremy Corbyn's Former Spokesman Joins Greens With Swipe At Keir Starmer". HuffPost UK. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
189. ^ "Could Jeremy Corbyn be London's next mayor?". ITV News. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
190. ^ Sam Francis (28 March 2023). "Jeremy Corbyn banned from standing as candidate for Labour party". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
191. ^ "Labour no longer being monitored by equalities watchdog after antisemitism reforms". Sky News. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
192. ^ a b "Why is Keir Starmer trying to rewrite Labour leadership rules?". The Guardian. 22 September 2021. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
193. ^ Bush, Stephen (21 September 2021). "Keir Starmer's proposed rule changes are a power grab by the Parliamentary Labour Party". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
194. ^ Daly, Patrick (25 September 2021). "Labour electoral college proposals 'dead' as Starmer climbs down over reforms". www.standard.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
195. ^ Cowburn, Ashley (25 September 2021). "Starmer waters down Labour rulebook overhaul as he drops electoral college proposal". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
196. ^ Parkinson, Justin (26 September 2021). "Labour backs Sir Keir Starmer over party rules reforms". BBC News. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
197. ^ Heffer, Greg (26 September 2021). "Labour conference 2021: Sir Keir Starmer sees party rulebook reforms passed despite another day of criticism". Sky News. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
198. ^ Blackburn, Tom (28 September 2021). "The Bakers' Union has broken its ties with the Labour Party". BirminghamLive. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
199. ^ Savage, Michael (19 April 2020). "Labour party faces financial peril over leaked report". The Observer. Archived from the original on 19 April 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
200. ^ Payne, Sebastian (13 April 2020). "Labour party to probe leaked anti-Semitism report". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
201. ^ "Opposition to Jeremy Corbyn 'hindered' anti-Semitism action, claims report". BBC News. 13 April 2020. Archived from the original on 13 April 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
202. ^ Mason, Rowena (12 April 2020). "'Hostility to Corbyn' curbed Labour efforts to tackle antisemitism, says leaked report". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 April 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
203. ^ Monbiot, George (15 February 2023). "This senseless lawsuit could bankrupt the Labour party and let the Tories win again". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 15 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
204. ^ "Ex-Corbyn staff court case could dent Labour election fund". BBC News. 13 January 2023. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
205. ^ a b "Data watchdog drops Labour leak case". BBC News. 17 January 2023. Archived from the original on 15 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
206. ^ Rogers, Alexandra (19 July 2022). "Factional In-Fighting Under Jeremy Corbyn Left Labour 'Dysfunctional', Report Finds". HuffPost UK. Archived from the original on 15 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
207. ^ a b "Anti-Semitism used as factional weapon within Labour, says report". BBC News. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
208. ^ a b Zeffman, Henry (20 July 2022). "Antisemitism 'used as weapon' by Jeremy Corbyn's friends and foes". The Times. Archived from the original on 20 July 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
209. ^ Mason, Rowena (12 April 2020). "'Hostility to Corbyn' curbed Labour efforts to tackle antisemitism, says leaked report". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
210. ^ Elgot, Jessica; Walker, Peter (19 July 2022). "Antisemitism issue used as 'factional weapon' in Labour, report finds". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
211. ^ a b Merrick, Rob (22 July 2022). "Black Labour staff suffer under party's 'hierarchy of racism', Forde report finds". Independent. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
212. ^ "Staff faced 'racism and sexism' within Labour party, damning report claims". ITV News. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
213. ^ Ali, Taj (20 July 2022). "The Forde Report Proves Labour's Racism – And it Hasn't Gone Away". Tribune. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
214. ^ "The Forde Report" (PDF). p. 81. Retrieved 24 October 2022. "Other themes included concerns that the attention to the surge of cases relating to antisemitism and the importance they appeared to play in the interfactional conflict meant that the Party was in effect operating a hierarchy of racism or of discrimination with other forms of racism and discrimination being ignored. For a Party which seeks to be a standard bearer of progressive politics, equality, and workers' rights, this is an untenable situation. The Party must live by its values and lead by example."
215. ^ Merrick, Rob (26 July 2022). "'Kick in the teeth': Black Labour MPs condemn party's response to 'racism' report". Independent.
216. ^ Abbott, Diane (6 October 2022). "The Labour Party under Keir Starmer is taking Black people for granted | Diane Abbott". Independent. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
217. ^ a b c d e Wallace Lockhart, David (16 November 2022). "Labour left-wingers angry about being blocked as MP candidates". BBC News.
218. ^ Morris, Sophie (7 December 2022). "The MPs who have announced they are standing down at the next general election". Sky News.
219. ^

* Maguire, Patrick (7 November 2022). "Starmer's quiet purge of his would-be MPs". The Times. Archived from the original on 7 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
* Diver, Tony (5 November 2022). "Keir Starmer accused of 'purging' Labour Left as Corbynite candidates blocked from standing to be MP". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 5 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
* Chloe Chaplain; Paul Waugh; Hugo Gye (13 October 2022). "Keir Starmer's 'purge' of Labour's left is destabilising an otherwise buoyant party, MPs say". inews.co.uk. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
* Chappell, Elliot (11 October 2022). "Sam Tarry's deselection is just one part of a bigger shakeup of the Labour party | Elliot Chappell". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 11 October 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
* Grünewald, Zoë (21 November 2022). "Starmer critic beats "right-wing purge" to narrowly win reselection". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.

220. ^ a b Wearmouth, Rachel (16 November 2022). "Morgan McSweeney – Labour's power broker". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
221. ^ Schan, Hilary (14 November 2022). "Starmer's War on Democracy". Tribune. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
222. ^ a b c Elgot, Jessica (13 November 2022). "Starmer takes aim at loose cannons with his tight control of Labour selections". The Guardian.
223. ^ Adu, Aletha (22 November 2022). "Momentum in financial peril after leftwing exodus from Labour". The Guardian.
224. ^ Statesman, New (17 May 2023). "The New Statesman's left power list". New Statesman. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
225. ^ a b c d Rogers, Alexandra (27 January 2023). "Exclusive: Keir Starmer Forced Into Candidate Selection U-Turn After Backlash". HuffPost.
226. ^ Richards, Xander (14 November 2020). "Labour NEC vote reveals drop in party membership since Keir Starmer's election". The National.
227. ^ Deacon, Michael (28 November 2020). "Labour members quitting in droves? That's the best news Keir Starmer's had all year". The Telegraph.
228. ^ a b Stone, John (17 August 2022). "Labour loses nearly 100,000 members and makes £5 million loss in 2021". Independent.
229. ^ a b c "Labour membership falls by 90,000, latest accounts show". BBC News. 17 August 2022.
230. ^ Jessica Elgot (17 August 2022). "Labour £4.8m in deficit after redundancy payouts and membership losses". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
231. ^ Robertson, Adam (27 July 2023). "Labour Party lose 10k members in just two months". The National. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
232. ^ a b Rowena Mason (7 September 2023). "Labour boosts election war chest with record quarter for funding". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 September 2023.

* v
* t
* e

Keir Starmer

* Director of Public Prosecutions (2008–2013)
* Leader of the Opposition (2020–present)
* Leader of the Labour Party (UK) (2020–present)
* MP for Holborn and St Pancras (2015–present)

Labour Party leadership|

* 2020 leadership election
* Shadow Cabinet
* May 2021 reshuffle
* November 2021 reshuffle
* Beergate

Elections|

* By elections (2019–present parliament)
* local elections
* 2021
* 2022

Other|

* The Starmer Project

* Category

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template