Portrait of Keir Starmer
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Keir Starmer on Rishi Sunak

Political Opponent (strong)

Keir Starmer has consistently positioned himself in opposition to Rishi Sunak, particularly after Starmer became Prime Minister following the 2024 general election which ended the Conservatives' 14-year rule. As Leader of the Opposition, Starmer heavily criticized the economic instability and public service issues that emerged during Sunak's premiership.

This opposition was framed around promises of stability and change, with Starmer holding Sunak’s government responsible for the cost of living crisis and ongoing industrial disputes. Upon entering office, Starmer acknowledged Sunak's historic achievement as the first British Asian Prime Minister but swiftly moved to dismantle key Sunak policies.

Starmer's tenure as Prime Minister has been characterized by implementing Labour policies that directly reversed the Conservative government's direction under Sunak. This includes declaring the Rwanda asylum plan "dead" and moving quickly to settle public sector strikes that were inherited from the preceding administration.

Context

The relationship between Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak is defined by their roles as the leaders of the two main political parties, with Starmer succeeding Sunak as Prime Minister following the 2024 UK General Election. Starmer, as Leader of the Opposition from 2020 to 2024, made criticizing Sunak's government a central pillar of his political strategy to win power.

Sunak's term as Prime Minister (from late 2022 until July 2024) provided Starmer with a clear target for Labour's campaign messages focused on economic renewal and restoring public services. Starmer's criticisms reflected the Labour Party's broader narrative that the Conservative Party, led by Sunak, had failed the country across multiple sectors.

Timeline

  1. Starmer proposed a vote of no confidence in the government when Rishi Sunak was Chancellor and later Prime Minister, criticizing the government crisis following the mini-budget.
  2. Labour entered the 2024 general election campaign with a significant lead over the Conservatives, capitalizing on public dissatisfaction with the Conservative government led by Rishi Sunak.
  3. Upon appointment as Prime Minister, Keir Starmer paid tribute to Rishi Sunak's achievement as the first British Asian Prime Minister but emphasized that the public had voted for change.
  4. One of Starmer's first acts as Prime Minister was to declare the controversial Rwanda asylum plan, inherited from the Rishi Sunak administration, 'dead'.

Comparison

  • Economic Management: Starmer, via Chancellor Rachel Reeves, accused the preceding Rishi Sunak government of leaving a £21.9 billion "black hole" in the public finances, justifying difficult decisions like scrapping Winter Fuel Payments.
  • Asylum Policy: Starmer immediately scrapped the Rwanda asylum plan, a key policy under Sunak's premiership, replacing it with the Border Security Command.
  • Industrial Disputes: Starmer's government worked to resolve several ongoing public sector strikes, which had been a persistent issue during the final years of the Conservative government under Sunak.