UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer warns successor on foreign policy focus

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is preparing to leave office, told the BBC that the next British leader cannot spend less time on foreign policy and diplomacy than he has. He said that in today’s unstable international environment, external crises and domestic politics are inseparable, stressing that "foreign policy and internal politics are the same thing."

Starmer highlighted the UK's recent achievements – stabilising the economy, reducing child poverty, supporting Ukraine and strengthening its role in international coalitions – as examples of the importance of an active diplomatic agenda. He cautioned that his successor, Labour leadership hopeful Andy Burnham, who has pledged to focus on housing, standards of living and regional devolution, will still have to deal with global challenges and cannot marginalise foreign affairs.

The remarks come amid an upcoming leadership transition in the Labour Party, with expectations that the new prime minister will inherit both the domestic agenda and the need to navigate an increasingly fragile world order.