London: Labour leader Keir Starmer is a former human rights lawyer turned state prosecutor whose ruthless ambition and formidable work ethic look set to propel him to Britain's highest political office.

At 61, if exit polls hold true, Starmer will become the oldest new British prime minister in almost half a century, just nine years after entering parliament. The married father of two, unlike many modern politicians, had a long and distinguished career before becoming an MP, with views rooted in pragmatism rather than ideology.

"We must return politics to service," Starmer repeated throughout his campaign, vowing to put "country first, party second" after 14 turbulent years of Conservative rule under five different prime ministers. This mantra resonates with supporters who see him as a managerial, reliable leader who will approach Downing Street with the same seriousness and forensic attention he brought to his legal career. Critics, however, label him an uninspiring opportunist who frequently shifts positions and lacks a clear, defining vision for the country.

A devoted Arsenal fan, Starmer has worked to shed his image as buttoned-up and boring, recently appearing more at ease in public. Supporters argue his lack of charisma compared to predecessors like Boris Johnson is part of his appeal: a steady, straightforward presence after years of Tory tumult.

With his grey quiff and black-rimmed glasses, Starmer—named after Labour's founding father Keir Hardie—is also the party's most working-class leader in decades. "My dad was a toolmaker, my mum was a nurse," he often reminds voters, countering depictions of him as part of a liberal London elite.

Starmer’s ruthless purging of left-wingers from his party underscores a determined streak that has propelled him to the pinnacle of British politics, though he is said to be funny and loyal in private. He maintains a habit of not working after 6:00 pm on Fridays to spend time with his wife Victoria, an NHS occupational therapist, and their two teenage children, whose names are kept private.

"There's something extraordinary in him still being quite normal," Starmer's biographer Tom Baldwin wrote in The Guardian.

Born on September 2, 1962, Keir Rodney Starmer was raised in a modest, semi-detached house on the outskirts of London by a seriously ill mother and an emotionally distant father. He had three siblings, one with learning difficulties, and his parents were animal lovers who rescued donkeys.

A talented musician, Starmer had violin lessons with Norman Cook, later known as DJ Fatboy Slim. After legal studies at Leeds and Oxford, Starmer championed leftist causes, defending trade unions, anti-McDonald's activists, and death row inmates. He is friends with human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and once recounted a boozy lunch with her and her husband, actor George Clooney.

In 2003, Starmer began a shift towards the establishment, first ensuring Northern Ireland police complied with human rights legislation, then in 2008 becoming the director of public prosecutions for England and Wales. There, he prosecuted MPs for expenses abuses, journalists for phone hacking, and young rioters. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, though he rarely uses the title "Sir."

Starmer entered parliament in 2015, representing a north London seat, just weeks before his mother’s death from a rare joint disease. A year later, he joined a failed rebellion against Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's perceived lack of leadership during the EU referendum campaign, later rejoining the top team as Labour's Brexit spokesman until he succeeded Corbyn.

Under Starmer's leadership, Labour has moved back to the center, expelling Corbyn and tackling anti-Semitism. His strategic repositioning of the party reflects a lifelong drive to succeed. "If you're born without privilege, you don't have time for messing around," Starmer once said. "You don't walk around problems without fixing them, and you don't surrender to the instincts of organizations that won't face up to change."

Dominic Grieve, a former Conservative attorney general who worked closely with Starmer, said he "inspires loyalty because he comes across as being so transparently decent and rational." Even those who disagree with his policies see him as a man of moderation.

Despite accusations of betrayal from the left for abandoning pledges like scrapping university tuition fees, Starmer's relentless pragmatism and commitment to service have positioned him to lead the UK during a critical period of change. AFP