Keir Starmer

A former Director of Public Prosecutions and human rights barrister, Starmer became PM in July 2024 after leading Labour to its first election victory in fourteen years. His Iran position rests on a contested distinction: authorising US use of Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford for "defensive" purposes while refusing RAF Akrotiri for offensive strikes. His own attorney general, Lord Hermer KC, advised the operation does not accord with international law.

When Trump announced a naval blockade of Iranian ports on 12 April, Starmer declined to join. The UK is now leading a 51-nation Coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz through minesweeping and diplomatic pressure rather than a blockade. The UK Permanent Joint Headquarters at Northwood hosted 30 nations' military planners on 22-23 April to draft rules of engagement for the Coalition mission. Starmer and Macron co-chaired the EU informal leaders' summit in Cyprus on 23-24 April, where Article 42.7 was placed on the agenda alongside the Northwood track.

On Russia, Starmer announced at the JEF Helsinki summit on 26 March 2026 that the Royal Navy would interdict sanctioned shadow fleet vessels in British waters, closing the English Channel to 600+ tankers , and signed a UK-Ukraine drone manufacturing pact. The two positions project a coherent if uncomfortable strategy: Economic warfare on Russia, multilateral diplomacy over unilateral force on Iran. He faces 58% domestic opposition to base access for Iran strikes.

Starmer has been Prime Minister since July 2024 and Labour leader since April 2020. He is a barrister and former Director of Public Prosecutions (2008-2013). Labour won a landslide majority of 412 seats at the 2024 general election on his watch.

From 11-12 May 2026, Starmer faced the most significant domestic political crisis of his premiership. In six days, eight ministers and junior ministers resigned, beginning with Health Secretary Wes Streeting on 11 May and accelerating to include four parliamentary private secretaries on 12 May. The proximate cause was the NEC's 8-1 vote on 11 May to block Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from being added to the Labour candidate list for the Makerfield by-election — a decision Starmer's No 10 was perceived as orchestrating. An emergency PLP meeting on 12 May counted 96 MPs prepared to back a leadership trigger against 103 holding firm for Starmer, leaving him technically safe but politically exposed.

On 13 May the King's Speech opened Parliament with 27 bills, confirming the Representation of the People Amendment Bill had been excluded from the programme. Starmer remains Prime Minister as of 14 May 2026. The leadership crisis is an active story; the page will be updated as events develop.