29th June

Six years ago, Keir Starmer took over a Labour Party reeling from a landslide election defeat and morally compromised by the stain of antisemitism. The Labour Party he leaves today is unrecognisable from the one he took over. We owe him a debt of gratitude.

Under Keir’s leadership, our Party went from suffering its worst general election defeat since 1935 into government with a landslide majority in less than five years. Keir’s leadership transformed our electoral fortunes by making us a relevant, mainstream political force again.

In government, he has been a voice of stability and cooperation during a turbulent period on the international stage. He has also driven through a legislative programme in just two short years that we should be proud of. But as Anna Turley remarked the nature of politics now is impatient, unforgiving and personally brutal. Keir Starmer had to endure that in spades.

From the start he understood that racism and prejudice is a stain on our Party’s soul. He has made the Party better for that.

We thank him for his service and for the dignity he is showing as he departs.  Keir leaves the Labour Party in a much better place than he found it