Starmer's Future Moves: From Cookery to Global Stage
As Keir Starmer prepares to leave Downing Street, the outgoing prime minister has been joking with friends about his post-premiership plans, including taking a cookery course or cutting his father-in-law's hedge. However, allies widely expect him to pursue an international role, building on his respected foreign policy record.
One friend noted Starmer's culinary limitations: "He needs it, he only makes two meals." Another jest suggested he could graduate from hedges to lawns. A different ally mentioned he might climb actual mountains, a metaphor for his political challenges.
International Focus: A Natural Fit
Starmer has often faced criticism for his frequent overseas travel, dubbed "never here Keir," but he has argued that international and domestic affairs are "one and the same thing" due to their interconnected impact. A friend stated: "He's got an incredible amount of experience to offer. It feels like he'll end up doing something international-facing. That's his comfort zone and also what he's best at." He is reportedly interested in the role of Nato secretary general when a vacancy arises.
Starmer recently received the Légion d’honneur from French President Emmanuel Macron, underscoring his standing abroad. Allies believe his sense of duty will guide him, with local members in his central London seat urging him to stay on to prevent a byelection that could be won by the Greens.
Legacy and Transition
In a Sky News interview, Starmer suggested he might be remembered as the person who "saved the Labour party" after the Jeremy Corbyn era. He said: "Everybody along the way said: 'It's not going to happen. You're not going to do it. It's not possible.' And every time I said: 'It is. You watched me do it. We did it and we won a general election.' And, I'm very proud of that. So I shall walk out with pride."
Allies say he will keep his counsel with his successor, offering private advice rather than public interventions like Tony Blair. One ally remarked: "He'll be more Gordon Brown than Tony Blair in every way. I can't see him going off to make his millions. He'll pick a cause he cares about and stick with it."
Adjusting to Life After Downing Street
Friends worry about the sudden quiet after a flurry of activity. One said: "I don't know what it means for him when he wakes up next week and it's quiet, and he doesn't need to rush downstairs to meetings. And then when he turns on the radio, and somebody is talking about the prime minister, but it's not him." Another added: "He's got to keep himself busy. His family are amazing: they will help."
Starmer, unlike some predecessors like Boris Johnson who still believe in a comeback, has shown a more grounded approach. In his final PMQs, he told his family: "To my wife and children: I love you." He plans to spend time on holiday with his wife and two teenagers, noting: "I leave probably the most high-profile job in the country to the most important, which is to be the best dad I can to my kids and best husband I can to my wife."
