Overview

THE BESTSELLING BIOGRAPHY OF THE NEW BRITISH PRIME MINISTER ‘Required reading for anyone who has an interest in who governs Britain' ALASTAIR CAMPBELL 'This will be the most important political book of the year’ MATTHEW D’ANCONA, EVENING STANDARD This authoritative – but not authorised – biography by Tom Baldwin provides answers by drawing deeply on many hours of interviews with Prime Minister 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. '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 'This is an absolutely riveting and very timely biography' AMOL RAJAN ‘Highly readable… Baldwin has peeled back more layers than anyone else' ROBERT SHRIMSLEY, FINANCIAL TIMES ‘Tom Baldwin’s portrait is of a tough, conscientious, and kindly man with the right values' ANDREW MARR, NEW STATESMAN

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9780008661021

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Reviews

‘Excellent… Baldwin’s early chapters are especially enlightening, exploring his subject’s formative years. The book is very good, too, on the gang of advisers that Starmer has gathered around him, people who will become extremely important in national life if Labour wins' MATTHEW D’ANCONA, EVENING STANDARD 'It tells us much we need to know about the man who will be prime minister… [many] scoops artfully concealed in the narrative… The access is so comprehensive and his subject so uncharacteristically candid that exploring this private world can almost feel prurient… At times it is unclear whether Starmer grasps the significance of what he has done in cooperating with this biography’ PATRICK MAGUIRE, THE TIMES ‘As intimate an insight into Britain’s likely next Prime Minister as readers are probably going to get… and crucial to understanding what makes him tick.’ GABY HINSLIFF, THE GUARDIAN 'This story, told with sensitivity and simplicity, offers readers an insight into the question voters across Britain will ask this year: who really is our possible next prime minister? The picture painted of Sir Keir’s motivations and make-up is skillfully done, with all the nuance kept in; [it will] engage any reader hoping to understand the man who may be running Britain come the end of the year' BEN RILEY-SMITH, DAILY TELEGRAPH ‘A fair minded, unflashy biography…[of] our next serious Prime Minister. Watch this space. Attlee may have some competition’ ROBERT MCCRUM, INDEPENDENT ‘If you want to understand what drives the man who would lead Britain, start here – sharp, smart and illuminating' EMILY MAITLIS ‘Required reading for anyone who has an interest in who governs Britain' ALASTAIR CAMPBELL

‘Tom Baldwin paints a picture of a man both deeply ordinary and quietly remarkable. If you want to understand what drives the man who would lead Britain, start here – sharp, smart and illuminating' EMILY MAITLIS ‘An important and compelling book about a widely misunderstood political leader. With a wealth of new detail and insight, Baldwin tells how Starmer led the most remarkable and rapid political-party revival in modern British history and what a Starmer government would mean for Britain. The Starmer who is revealed in these pages is probably not the one you think you know. Anyone interested in the future of Britain should read this’ ROBERT PESTON ‘Tom Baldwin has combined his commitment to genuine journalistic inquiry with his deep understanding of the Labour Party to produce a book that is required reading for anyone who has an interest in who governs Britain. After all the ballyhoo and nonsense of the Johnson/Truss years it is incredibly refreshing to read a serious and informed book about a serious politician’ ALASTAIR CAMPBELL

'Journalists often write mid-flight biographies of politicians on the basis that one day they might become prime minister, generally they are worth a read, but few of them are likely to stand the test of time. Baldwin’s book is an exception; as well as being very well written, he obtained considerable access and he presents a compelling picture of what Starmer is like, and in particular how he was brought up. If you admire Starmer, you should definitely read it. And if you don’t like him, you should read it anyway, because he could be PM for the next 10 years and it may be a very long time before anyone produces a better or fairer account of what makes him tick' ANDREW SPARROW, GUARDIAN 'It tells us much we need to know about the man who will be prime minister… The access is so comprehensive and his subject so uncharacteristically candid that exploring this private world can almost feel prurient… At times it is unclear whether Starmer grasps the significance of what he has done in cooperating with this biography’ PATRICK MAGUIRE, THE TIMES 'This story, told with sensitivity and simplicity, offers readers an insight into the question voters across Britain will ask this year: who really is our possible next prime minister? The picture painted of Sir Keir’s motivations and make-up is skillfully done, with all the nuance kept in; [it will] engage any reader hoping to understand the man who may be running Britain come the end of the year' BEN RILEY-SMITH, DAILY TELEGRAPH ‘A fair minded, unflashy biography…[of] our next serious Prime Minister. Watch this space. Attlee may have some competition’ ROBERT MCCRUM, INDEPENDENT ‘A highly informative, illuminating and insightful biography… the most complete portrait we have yet been offered’ OBSERVER

THE FT'S PICK FOR 'WHAT TO READ AHEAD OF THE JULY 4 BALLOT' 'As well as being very well written, Baldwin obtained considerable access and he presents a compelling picture of what Starmer is like, and in particular how he was brought up. If you admire Starmer, you should definitely read it. And if you don’t like him, you should read it anyway, because he could be PM for the next 10 years and it may be a very long time before anyone produces a better or fairer account of what makes him tick' ANDREW SPARROW, GUARDIAN 'It tells us much we need to know about the man who will be prime minister… The access is so comprehensive and his subject so uncharacteristically candid that exploring this private world can almost feel prurient… At times it is unclear whether Starmer grasps the significance of what he has done in cooperating with this biography’ PATRICK MAGUIRE, THE TIMES 'This story, told with sensitivity and simplicity, offers readers an insight into the question voters across Britain will ask this year: who really is our possible next prime minister? The picture painted of Sir Keir’s motivations and make-up is skillfully done, with all the nuance kept in; [it will] engage any reader hoping to understand the man who may be running Britain come the end of the year' BEN RILEY-SMITH, DAILY TELEGRAPH ‘A fair minded, unflashy biography…[of] our next serious Prime Minister. Watch this space. Attlee may have some competition’ ROBERT MCCRUM, INDEPENDENT ‘A highly informative, illuminating and insightful biography… the most complete portrait we have yet been offered’ OBSERVER

'It tells us much we need to know about the man who will be prime minister… [many] scoops artfully concealed in the narrative… Baldwin’s biography is vividly drawn and unfussily constructed… The access is so comprehensive and his subject so uncharacteristically candid that exploring this private world can almost feel prurient… At times it is unclear whether Starmer grasps the significance of what he has done in cooperating with this biography’ THE TIMES ‘Tom Baldwin paints a picture of a man both deeply ordinary and quietly remarkable. If you want to understand what drives the man who would lead Britain, start here – sharp, smart and illuminating' EMILY MAITLIS ‘An important and compelling book about a widely misunderstood political leader. With a wealth of new detail and insight, Baldwin tells how Starmer led the most remarkable and rapid political-party revival in modern British history and what a Starmer government would mean for Britain. The Starmer who is revealed in these pages is probably not the one you think you know. Anyone interested in the future of Britain should read this’ ROBERT PESTON ‘Tom Baldwin has combined his commitment to genuine journalistic inquiry with his deep understanding of the Labour Party to produce a book that is required reading for anyone who has an interest in who governs Britain. After all the ballyhoo and nonsense of the Johnson/Truss years it is incredibly refreshing to read a serious and informed book about a serious politician’ ALASTAIR CAMPBELL

'It tells us much we need to know about the man who will be prime minister… The access is so comprehensive and his subject so uncharacteristically candid that exploring this private world can almost feel prurient… At times it is unclear whether Starmer grasps the significance of what he has done in cooperating with this biography’ PATRICK MAGUIRE, THE TIMES ‘As intimate an insight into Britain’s likely next Prime Minister as readers are probably going to get… and crucial to understanding what makes him tick.’ GABY HINSLIFF, THE GUARDIAN 'This story, told with sensitivity and simplicity, offers readers an insight into the question voters across Britain will ask this year: who really is our possible next prime minister? The picture painted of Sir Keir’s motivations and make-up is skillfully done, with all the nuance kept in; [it will] engage any reader hoping to understand the man who may be running Britain come the end of the year' BEN RILEY-SMITH, DAILY TELEGRAPH ‘A fair minded, unflashy biography…[of] our next serious Prime Minister. Watch this space. Attlee may have some competition’ ROBERT MCCRUM, INDEPENDENT ‘If you want to understand what drives the man who would lead Britain, start here – sharp, smart and illuminating' EMILY MAITLIS ‘Required reading for anyone who has an interest in who governs Britain' ALASTAIR CAMPBELL ‘Beautifully written’ ISABEL HARDMAN, I PAPER ‘A penetrating new biography of the Labour Party’s leader’ THE ECONOMIST ‘This compelling book sheds much-needed light on the real Keir Starmer’ THE SCOTSMAN ‘You should read before the election' JAMES O’BRIEN, LBC

'As well as being very well written, Baldwin obtained considerable access and he presents a compelling picture of what Starmer is like, and in particular how he was brought up. If you admire Starmer, you should definitely read it. And if you don’t like him, you should read it anyway, because he could be PM for the next 10 years and it may be a very long time before anyone produces a better or fairer account of what makes him tick' ANDREW SPARROW, GUARDIAN 'The access is so comprehensive and his subject so uncharacteristically candid that exploring this private world can almost feel prurient… At times it is unclear whether Starmer grasps the significance of what he has done in cooperating with this biography’ PATRICK MAGUIRE, THE TIMES 'Told with sensitivity and simplicity… The picture painted of Sir Keir’s motivations and make-up is skillfully done, with all the nuance kept in' BEN RILEY-SMITH, DAILY TELEGRAPH ‘A fair minded, unflashy biography…[of] our next serious Prime Minister. Watch this space. Attlee may have some competition’ ROBERT MCCRUM, INDEPENDENT ‘A highly informative, illuminating and insightful biography… the most complete portrait we have yet been offered’ OBSERVER

Author Information

TOM BALDWIN has spent most of his life writing about or working in politics from Westminster to Washington. He began his career on local newspapers before having senior roles for the Sunday Telegraph and The Times. He was the Labour Party's communications director under Ed Miliband and later helped run a mass campaign for a second referendum on Europe. He lives in London with his family.

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