As Keir Starmer prepares to hand over the keys to No 10 to Andy Burnham, his legacy is being scrutinized. While many political achievements can be undone, three of his policies are expected to stand the test of time.
Hillsborough Law
Perhaps more than any other single policy, Starmer considered passing the Hillsborough Law a personal mission. After months of wrangling over its application to security services, the bill passed the House of Commons on Tuesday. If fully enacted, the law would impose a 'duty of candour' on public officials, meaning they can be prosecuted if they lie or evade in a public inquiry. Attorney General Richard Hermer said it will 'radically change the relationship between those who govern and the people they govern, forever'.
Renters' Rights
Starmer's government successfully scrapped no-fault evictions for renters, a policy that dramatically changed housing security. From May 2026, renters in England are no longer bound by fixed-term contracts and cannot be evicted for no reason at short notice. This beneficial change for millions is considered hard to reverse.
Small Modular Nuclear Reactors
Starmer's government allowed small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) to be built anywhere in the country, not just designated nuclear sites, and awarded Rolls-Royce a contract to design the technology. Once operational, SMRs could reduce the UK's reliance on fossil fuels and power energy-intensive AI datacentres, which are expected to become crucial in the future. Climate campaigners remain concerned about nuclear waste.
These three policies, according to Senior Politics Reporter Craig Munro, are likely to endure for decades, shaping the UK's governance, housing, and energy landscape.
