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Keir Starmer
- The Biography
- Narrated by: John Sackville
- Length: 13 hrs and 39 mins
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Keir Starmer
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Summary
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
'This will be the most important political book of the year’ MATTHEW D’ANCONA, EVENING STANDARD
'The first serious and consistently readable biography of Starmer…It is a wonder that he has said so much to Baldwin' PATRICK MAGUIRE, THE TIMES
‘Required reading for anyone who has an interest in who governs Britain' ALASTAIR CAMPBELL
This authoritative – but not authorised – biography by Tom Baldwin provides answers by drawing deeply on many hours of interviews with the Labour leader himself, as well as unprecedented access to members of his family, his oldest friends and closest colleagues.
Together, they tell an unexpectedly intimate story filled with feelings of grief and love that has driven him on more than any rigid ideology or loyalty to a particular faction.
The book tracks Starmer’s emergence from a troubled small town background and rebellious youth, through a storied legal career as a human rights barrister and the country’s chief prosecutor, to becoming an MP relatively late in life.
Baldwin provides a vivid and compelling account of how this untypical politician then rose to be leader of his party in succession to Jeremy Corbyn, then transformed it with a ruthless rapidity that has enraged opponents from the left just as much as it has bewildered those on the right.
Above all, this is a book that should be read by anyone who wants to understand how someone who has too often been underestimated or dismissed as dull, now intends to change Britain.
‘Highly readable… Baldwin has peeled back more layers than anyone else' ROBERT SHRIMSLEY, FINANCIAL TIMES
‘Tom Baldwin’s portrait is off a tough, conscientious, and kindly man with the right values' ANDREW MARR, NEW STATESMAN
‘A highly informative, illuminating and insightful biography… the most complete portrait we have yet been offered’ OBSERVER
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
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What listeners say about Keir Starmer
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Mr Den
- 25-04-24
Decency and competency
understanding of the man. His motives and values. He'll make a fine Prime Minister
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- stephen gibbons
- 24-03-24
Surprised me, didn't think I'd be optimistic but...
Moving, validating and reassuring! Haway Keir! Think I'm going to have to get involved. There is a light that never goes out.😃😎❤
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kevin
- 25-03-24
enjoyable story
Great to learn more about the next leader if the UK. Reading it filled me with hope.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Paul Phillips
- 10-04-24
STAMMER OFFERS BUY ONE GET ONE FREE?
SLIGHTLY BREATHLESS AND OVER ENTHUSIASTIC DELIVERY AND WRITTEN IN A STYLE MORE WOMANS OWN THAN SERIOUS POLITICAL STUDY
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Chris N.
- 29-03-24
Is this a hagiography?... We will find out.
If it's not, then we could be looking forward to having one of our greatest prime ministers.
If it is, we will all
be singing
The Who's " Won't get fooled again"--
AGAIN!!!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Keith B
- 17-03-24
It is a long listen
Detailed and always worthy in depth revue of what I sincerely hope will be the most respectable PM of my time
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- TopCat
- 12-03-24
Inspirational
Great writing and great narration- an absolute joy! I wish everyone would read this book.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Derrick
- 16-03-24
Interesting as long as you retain scepticism
I came to this after listening to a podcast by Andrew Marr. This is the first politician's "semi authorised" bio I have ever read or listened to; intrigued to find out more about the man who is likely to be our next PM.
I have to say I found it very interesting an in part, quite moving. His story of going to a "posh" if not initially private school and then Oxbridge from a working class background is one I share. We are a couple of year's apart in age. I "buy" much of the story, but the author betrays his Labour Party Comms Director background a little at times with some "man of the people" vignettes that really do sound like 1980s election videos. Starmer; the local man in London, waving to the people as he strides past, stopping a taxi driver outside a newsagents to buy an A-Z to show him a better route...... really????
Sackville manages some pieces of the "message" with a little less naivete. The "I did not plan to run for leader" section of the story is not challenged, but not enthusiastically championed either. Equally, the ruthless expulsion of the Left once leader is not necessarily challenged, but again the direction of travel is consistent and no attempt is made to qualify it.
All in all an interesting read, but anyone with sense will recognise that this comes out a year or less before an election and must be read or heard in that context
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- B. Adamson
- 21-03-24
Our Next PM?
I'm a Labour member and voted to elect Starmer as leader: card(s) on the table!
I wanted to know more about someone who is clearly a complex character with a complex back story. So much of what we hear about politicians, particularly when the media is working so hard to muddy the waters, is simplistic and often downright misleading. Now more than ever we need politicians with real world experience to address such profound problems, not people relying on charisma alone to get them through: we've had quite enough of that... Let's just say I'm positively drawn to someone whose life's ambition is not to be "world king".
This portrait of a man who will probably be our next prime minister is not presented strictly chronologically, but rather reflecting on themes in his life with illustrations from different periods. So there might be a chapter on Starmer's attitude to human rights which will track way back to his early days as a lawyer which give context to more recent events and attitudes. It is complex, but so is the man.
I enjoyed it a lot and will probably return to it in the future.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Roo B
- 19-03-24
Everyone should read this!
Found the narration a big ‘flat’ but such a good listen. A really interesting look at the man who will be next pm !
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