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Keir Starmer

The Biography

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Keir Starmer

By: Tom Baldwin
Narrated by: John Sackville
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About this listen

THE BESTSELLING BIOGRAPHY OF THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER

A Times Book of the Year; A Telegraph Book of the Year; A Daily Mail Book of the Year; A Waterstones Book of the Year

‘Required reading for anyone who has an interest in who governs Britain' ALASTAIR CAMPBELL

'This will be the most important political book of the year’ MATTHEW D’ANCONA, EVENING STANDARD

This authoritative – but not authorised – biography by Tom Baldwin provides answers by drawing deeply on many hours of interviews with Prime Minister himself, as well as unprecedented access to members of his family, his oldest friends and closest colleagues.

Together, they tell an unexpectedly intimate story filled with feelings of grief and love that has driven him on more than any rigid ideology or loyalty to a particular faction.

The book tracks Starmer’s emergence from a troubled small town background and rebellious youth, through a storied legal career as a human rights barrister and the country’s chief prosecutor, to becoming an MP relatively late in life.

Baldwin provides a vivid and compelling account of how this untypical politician then rose to be leader of his party in succession to Jeremy Corbyn, then transformed it with a ruthless rapidity that has enraged opponents from the left just as much as it has bewildered those on the right.

Above all, this is a book that should be read by anyone who wants to understand how someone who has too often been underestimated or dismissed as dull, now intends to change Britain.

'The first serious and consistently readable biography of Starmer…It is a wonder that he has said so much to Baldwin' PATRICK MAGUIRE, THE TIMES

'This is an absolutely riveting and very timely biography' AMOL RAJAN

‘Highly readable… Baldwin has peeled back more layers than anyone else' ROBERT SHRIMSLEY, FINANCIAL TIMES

©2024 Tom Baldwin (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers
Elections & Political Process Europe Great Britain Politicians Politics & Activism Politics & Government Biography Thought-Provoking Inspiring Human Rights

Critic reviews

'As well as being very well written, Baldwin obtained considerable access and he presents a compelling picture of what Starmer is like, and in particular how he was brought up. If you admire Starmer, you should definitely read it. And if you don’t like him, you should read it anyway, because he could be PM for the next 10 years and it may be a very long time before anyone produces a better or fairer account of what makes him tick'

ANDREW SPARROW, GUARDIAN

'The access is so comprehensive and his subject so uncharacteristically candid that exploring this private world can almost feel prurient… At times it is unclear whether Starmer grasps the significance of what he has done in cooperating with this biography’

PATRICK MAGUIRE, THE TIMES

'Told with sensitivity and simplicity… The picture painted of Sir Keir’s motivations and make-up is skillfully done, with all the nuance kept in'

BEN RILEY-SMITH, DAILY TELEGRAPH

‘A fair minded, unflashy biography…[of] our next serious Prime Minister. Watch this space. Attlee may have some competition’

ROBERT MCCRUM, INDEPENDENT

‘A highly informative, illuminating and insightful biography… the most complete portrait we have yet been offered’

OBSERVER

All stars
Most relevant
This certainly puts a lot more flesh on the bones of what up untill now appeared to be a sensible trustworthy man. After what this country has endured over the last few years a period of unity and realism is exactly what is required. An almost impossible task but this book gave me a glimmer of hope. Well done.

very interesting

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Enjoyed the fact seemingly fell into Politics, which can only be a strength imo. More trusted in decision making.

Different type of leader

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Started off interesting; the 2970s/80s working class background resonated with me. Politics got a little boring, and it’s hard to take the pious claims seriously now he’s actually PM

He sounded so promising

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Very good to know more about the man who is now our prime minister - warts (hardly any) and all.

Inspiring

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This is a fascinating read and tells Keir Starmers story in a most engaging way. The only exception to this is that on several occasions, I found myself confused by the time lines. Maybe I had lapses of communication, but I think the truth is that some of the storytelling jumps around a bit. Whether Starmer is about to become our Prime Minster, or the story of his

Baffled by Timeline

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