Outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a direct warning to his expected successor Andy Burnham about the unavoidable demands of international affairs.
Speaking in his first BBC interview since announcing his resignation last month, Starmer said the world is “more dangerous and volatile” than at almost any point in his lifetime.
Starmer argued that any incoming prime minister would be wrong to believe foreign and domestic policy could be treated as separate responsibilities.
He said: “It is not sensible to think you can just separate these two things out.”
He added: “This suggestion you can really, in the modern era, simply split up the international and domestic, is just…it just doesn’t make sense. It isn’t true. It isn’t right.”
Burnham, the Makerfield MP widely expected to enter Downing Street in the coming weeks, has faced expectations from parliamentary supporters to focus primarily on domestic issues including the cost of living crisis.
Starmer faced significant criticism throughout his two-year tenure for the amount of time he spent abroad, with critics labelling him “never here Keir.”
Despite that criticism, Starmer was unequivocal that global pressures would not ease for whoever follows him into office, pointing to the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
He said: “Whoever’s my successor is going to face the same global conflict. We keep saying, and it’s true, we’re in a more dangerous and volatile world than we’ve been in for probably most of my lifetime. That’s not just a phrase, that’s reality. That’s not going to change. And the domestic challenges aren’t going to change.”
Starmer described his decision to step down as “really, really tough” and “intensely personal,” despite having previously vowed to resist any Labour leadership challenge.
He said: “I grappled with what was the best thing to do for me, for the country, for the government.”
He added that the process involved consultations with parliamentary colleagues, immediate advisers, and trade unions before reaching his conclusion.
Starmer said he had “never had any personal animosity” towards Burnham, who previously served as mayor of Greater Manchester.
The outgoing prime minister also confirmed he intends to remain as an MP until at least the next general election, while pledging to keep “my mouth shut, rather giving constant advice to my successor about what they should be doing.”
Burnham has begun signalling his potential approach to government, telling a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” session that he would give Ukraine “100 per cent” the same level of support as Starmer, and indicating he would continue efforts to strengthen ties with the European Union.
He also suggested he would adhere to the 2024 Labour manifesto, ruled out calling an early general election, and said he would advocate for electoral reform.