In early 2020, the election of Keir Starmer's Labour leader was met with Euphoria across

much of the media. The Guardian's polytime bee, he was a trusted, tried and tested big

brained grown-up. Bright TV's Robert Peston, Starmer's triumph showed Labour was serious

about winning power once again. Meanwhile, the economist called Sir Keir Labour's

Electable New Leader, while the new statesman ran an edition whose front cover was Starmer

dressed as a knight in shining armour. Yet, despite winning the Labour leadership with

a thumping majority and enjoying the adoration across the media, Starmer had only been in politics

for five years, with little known about his views, or even his career as a leading

barrister and later Britain's director of public prosecutions.

That is, until now. In his new book, the Starmer project, The Journey to the Right, writer

Oliver Eagleton has documented Starmer's life and deeds, chronicling his time as a law

student, a pro bono lawyer, director of public prosecutions and later as a Labour MP.

In doing so, he offers the first account which zooms out, attempting to identify who

the Labour leader really is. Oliver, welcome to Downstreet. How are you doing?

Good, Aaron. How are you doing? I'm very well. I'm very happy to be joined by The Starmer

Guy, as I think you're going to be christened by the media for the next six months, but

that's not a label you're looking forward to. I'm doing everything in my power to shake

it as quickly as possible, but I know that for the purposes of this interview, at least,

I'm going to have to beat that guy, so I'm resigned to that. It's important to say this

is the first biography on Keir Starmer. You could be The Starmer Guy for at least six

months a year. He could be the next Prime Minister, and right now, this is the most authoritative

biography out there, but you don't seem happy about that, Oliver.

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