Who is the new British Prime Minister? | Wilnesh News

LONDON — Britain’s Labor Party is expected to shake up British politics this year by returning to power after 14 tumultuous years of Conservative rule.

The latest polls show the centre-left opposition party leading Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party by about 20 percentage points. YouGov poll. A voting intention survey conducted on June 12-13 showed support for Labor at 37%, the Conservatives at 18% and rising Brexit leader Nigel Farage’s Reform Party at 19%.

But who is Keir Starmer, leader of the Labor Party and most likely to become prime minister after Britain’s July 4 election? What does he represent?

Starmer was born in London, England, in 1962. His father was a toolmaker and his mother was a nurse.

The 61-year-old often refers to his humble beginnings as a point of connection with British voters and says his mother’s lifelong battle with serious illness left him deeply grateful for the NHS .

Starmer became the first in his family to go to university, studying law at the University of Leeds. After completing postgraduate studies at Oxford University, Starmer began working as a barrister in 1987, taking on high-profile cases including those against Shell, McDonald’s and former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher over mine closures .

Starmer also served as a human rights adviser during former Labor Prime Minister Tony Blair’s Northern Ireland administration Good Friday Agreement.

Starmer on the 2024 election campaign touted The country has ushered in a “decade of national renewal” after what Labor describes as years of spending cuts and falling living standards under the Conservatives.

In the party’s election manifesto, released last week, Starmer outlined spending measures to create a new publicly owned energy company, reduce NHS waiting times, build new homes and renationalize rail services.

But he has also positioned himself as a staunchly pro-business figure, continuing his years-long charm offensive with traditionally right-leaning voters, laying out plans for “wealth creation” and a national wealth fund.

“Economic growth and social justice must go hand in hand,” Starmer said at the launch of the manifesto.

Labor has outlined five long-term missions after taking power: driving economic growth, investing in green energy, overhauling the NHS, creating safer streets and delivering “opportunity” through a new skills agenda. To achieve these goals, Starmer is planning a sweeping shake-up of government ministries and Labor officials told the Financial Times.

Starmer, who voted to remain in the EU in the 2016 Brexit referendum, has also pledged to improve the “terrible” UK-EU trade deal, including in areas such as trade, research and security. However, he insisted there was no reason for the UK to rejoin the EU.

Despite his transformative agenda, Starmer is still seen by many as an establishment figure who lacks the charisma of other politicians. A YouGov poll His public popularity has lagged behind that of the Reform Party’s Farage since earlier this year, and his support among young voters has fallen further.

Critics have also questioned Starmer’s core values, such as the fact that he remains on Corbyn’s senior team despite Corbyn facing accusations of antisemitism within the Labor Party. Starmer later suspended Corbyn from the party. Others accuse him of betraying the left, courting business leaders and abandoning promises to: Cancel college tuition.

However, after a rocky few years in British politics – with three different Conservative prime ministers in 2022 alone – Starmer’s supporters see him as a stable centrist figure after major political upheaval .

—CNBC’s Katrina Bishop contributed to this report.