Keir Starmer is cracking jokes about cookery classes and garden hedges as speculation mounts over what the outgoing Prime Minister will do once he leaves Downing Street behind.
As his tenure at Number 10 draws to a close, Starmer has been candid with friends about his uncertain post-premiership plans, offering a mix of self-deprecating humour and genuine reflection about life after the highest office in the land.
One close friend revealed that Starmer has floated the idea of enrolling in a cookery course, a suggestion that raised more than a few laughs among those who know him well. ‘He needs it, he only makes two meals,’ the friend quipped, painting a picture of a man whose culinary ambitions have long been overshadowed by political ones.
The jokes did not stop there. Another suggestion doing the rounds among his inner circle was the prospect of Starmer taking up hedge-cutting duties at his father-in-law’s property. The idea, delivered with a wink, was that if he proved himself capable with the hedges, he might eventually be trusted to graduate to the lawns.
While the humour is clearly a coping mechanism for a man navigating a significant life transition, those close to him suggest the question of what comes next is one Starmer is beginning to take seriously.
For many former British prime ministers, the international stage has proven an irresistible draw. Tony Blair carved out a post-Downing Street career spanning Middle East diplomacy, global health initiatives, and high-profile consultancy work. Gordon Brown threw himself into international economic advocacy. Even David Cameron accepted a role as Foreign Secretary under Rishi Sunak, returning to frontline politics years after his resignation.
Whether Starmer follows a similar path remains to be seen, but allies believe his instincts lean toward public service rather than the lucrative speaking circuit that has attracted some of his predecessors.
Starmer built his reputation as Director of Public Prosecutions between 2008 and 2013, where he oversaw significant reforms to the Crown Prosecution Service and championed victims’ rights. That background in law and justice could open doors in international legal or humanitarian roles, should he choose to pursue them.
His time as Labour leader and then Prime Minister was defined by a sober, methodical approach to governance, a style that won him respect in some quarters and criticism for lacking charisma in others. Yet it is precisely that steady, serious temperament that could serve him well in roles requiring careful negotiation and long-term thinking on the world stage.
Back home, there is also the question of whether Starmer will remain a presence in British political life. Some former leaders choose to step back entirely, wary of being seen to interfere with their successors. Others maintain a public profile through writing, speaking, and occasional commentary.
For now, though, the cookery classes and the hedge-cutting jokes suggest a man who is, at least publicly, embracing the idea of a quieter life after years of relentless pressure at the top of British politics.
Whether that quieter life lasts more than a few months is another matter entirely. The international stage, as so many of his predecessors discovered, has a way of calling.