Starmer says successor cannot spend less time on foreign affairs

LONDON: Outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the person who replaces him will need to devote just as much attention to diplomacy and international crises as he did, dismissing the idea that the next leader could shift focus more heavily toward domestic issues.

Starmer, who announced last month that he would step down after two years in office, made the remarks in a BBC interview on Friday. He said foreign and domestic policy were closely linked at a time when Britain was navigating what he described as an increasingly unstable international environment.

In the interview, Starmer said debates over how a prime minister should divide time between overseas matters and issues at home missed the point because the two were interconnected. When asked whether a future premier could spend less time on diplomacy than he had, he gave a direct answer “No, I don’t think it is possible.”

Starmer has come under criticism from some opponents over the amount of time he has devoted to foreign policy during his premiership. Lawmaker Andy Burnham, who is widely expected to succeed him, has pledged to concentrate on domestic priorities including living standards, housing, infrastructure and transferring more power to Britain’s regions.

Starmer defends record in office

In a video posted on X on Saturday under the title With Keir, Starmer defended the international emphasis of his government, saying Britain had rebuilt its standing on the world stage. He pointed to support for Ukraine and Britain’s role in international coalitions as among the central achievements of his time in office.

Referring to Britain’s position internationally, Starmer said “The fact that now other countries look to us for that leadership is something I’m really proud of having delivered in the two years we’ve had in government.”

Alongside his foreign policy record, Starmer also highlighted domestic achievements he said had been delivered during his premiership. These included stabilising the economy, lowering child poverty and improving the National Health Service.

His comments come as attention turns to the leadership transition following his decision to leave office, with debate continuing over whether the next prime minister will alter the balance between international engagement and domestic policymaking.