‘Never forget what we did to turn this party around’
Inside the Keir Starmer's emotional Downing Street farewell to Jewish community
With tears visible in his eyes, outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer shared an emotional embrace with Finchley and Golders Green MP and Courts Minister Sarah Sackman, as sunlight flooded the Downing Street garden where Jewish supporters and communal leaders had gathered for a poignant farewell.
“Never forget what we went through together to turn this party around,” Starmer was overheard telling the Jewish parliamentarian, his words heavy with the weight of his two-year-long stint as PM drawing to a close.
Starmer’s words, a clear reference to the pivotal role he and Sackman had played in ridding Labour of antisemitism, were underscored by the presence of Ella Rose-Jacobs, the Jewish Labour Movement’s national chair, who delivered the event’s opening speech.
Later, Sackman told Jewish News: “It was an emotional moment. Keir has been a true friend to the community.”
Emotions ran high. Former Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl, accompanied by her husband Adrian Cohen, embraced the Prime Minister, reflecting on their shared journey as the fight against Labour antisemitism culminated in the damning EHRC judgement.
In the garden, former Jewish Labour Movement figures Lord Katz and Adam Langleben were also present, both visibly moved as Starmer spoke.
Current Board president Phil Rosenberg presented Starmer with a beautiful kiddush cup, thanking him not only for defeating anti-Jewish racism in Labour but also for his efforts on policing, national security, and most recently, the designation of Iran’s IRGC.
Now, with Andy Burnham set to replace him as PM – largely due to Starmer’s failure to win over large sections of the parliamentary Labour Party and a string of dire election results – it is clear that Starmer has been searching for a legacy.
Reflecting on his six and a half years at Labour’s helm – his leadership beginning after the dark days of Jeremy Corbyn – Starmer has hinted at a future beyond Westminster, where the fight against antisemitism still lies at the heart of his mission.
Speaking to Jewish News, and addressing those at Downing Street, Starmer declared: “It is the end of my political journey. But it’s not the end of me standing with you.
“I want to make you a further promise, because I promise I will stand with you, continue to stand with you, and do everything I can to support you in all of the years to come,” he added, his voice catching with emotion.
“I will do that whilst I have breath in my body. And I’ll proudly be with you in lockstep for the many, many years to come.”
Later, reflecting on his decision to host the Jewish community alone at the farewell, he told Jewish News he wanted to show gratitude to those who “gave me that space and that time, and that allowed us to do what I promised we’d do, which is root out antisemitism” from Labour. He said: “That, for me, doesn’t end with me stepping down as prime minister. It has to be a continuing fight.”
Having carved a reputation as one of Britain’s leading human rights lawyers at the Doughty Street Chambers, it seems unlikely Starmer will simply make a return to his former day job.
Some who are close to him suggest Starmer could have his eye on the international stage – even the possibility of securing the top job at the United Nations.
This would certainly offer him the opportunity to address concerns within the Jewish community, that the UN can, with its regular singling out of Israel for intense criticism, serve as a hotbed of antisemitism itself.
But sources close to Starmer are keen to point out that while he immediately plans to spend time with his wife, Lady Victoria and their children, he intends to continue serving his constituency as an MP, which will include standing up for Jewish residents there.
Whatever Starmer does next, it would be wrong to conclude that a PM who has only managed to serve two years out of a five-year term has been a success in the role.
And for some in the Jewish community, Starmer, while successfully ridding Labour of its antisemitism problem, has failed to move strongly and fast enough to address the problem in wider UK society.
“It sickens me that in the last two years alone, we have seen such horrific acts of hatred – targeting Jewish people, because you are Jewish,” he reflected. “I think, of course, of the despicable attacks in Golders Green earlier this summer. And that horrific day in October last year, on Yom Kippur at the Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester.”
It is to the PM’s credit that a fair proportion of those invited to his communal farewell had regularly expressed criticism of his government.
Later, speaking to Jewish News, Starmer reflected on the anger that had greeted him as he visited Golders Green after another vile terror attack saw two Jewish men stabbed. He said: “When we went to Golders Green, it was clear that this was a community in high levels of distress.”
Asked about the small minority of protesters who turned up outside the Hatzola headquarters in north London with signs cruelly reading “Starmer The Jew Harmer”, he said: “Well, what I think about in those moments is not so much the impact on me, but the impact it has on communities.”
He continued: “You know, politics is a rough trade, and you know there will always be criticism.
Some of the community will also never forgive Starmer for his decision to recognise a Palestinian state in September 2025, weeks before the last hostages held by Hamas were freed. But Starmer, who insiders confirm had resisted calls for Palestine recognition to have come earlier, will not now apologise for the “big step” he took.
For him, despite communal criticism, recognition of a Palestinian state represents the best hope of securing a safe and secure Israel, and of defeating both those who seek the destruction of the world’s only Jewish state, and yes, those who seek to make sure Palestine never happens, through the continued pursuit of wider borders for Israel.
Defending the Palestine recognition decision, which came at a time when European and other allies made exactly the same move, Starmer says: “The big question is, how do we take this forward? That has to be a two-state solution – I have firmly believed that all my life. We took a big step on that road with the recognition of Palestine. I genuinely believe that a lasting end to the conflict will only come about that way.”
pic PA Joanthan Brady
Some of the PM’s critics also claim that as a result of his policies towards Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, including the suspension of a small number of arms licences and the sanctioning of far-right ministers, Starmer has only served to fuel the cause of those who seek to demonise Israel.
His critics, on reflection though, may also wish to note that Starmer’s own language when referencing Israel has never been as inflammatory as that of those who regularly raise the “genocide” charge.
“Words can have consequences, I’ve tried to get this right in my time,” he says.
“There is a very, very clear distinction between policy criticism of the Israeli government, or any government across the world, and antisemitism, which are two different things.
“But it is also important with antisemitism to recognise all the different forms it can take.
“And that’s why I’ve tried to lead from the front on this issue.”
In a decision which clearly has left Starmer unimpressed, last week his successor Andy Burnham suggested Labour needed to apologise for the stance it took on Gaza, because it had been too soft on Israel.
Burnham had been among those calling for the UK to call for a ceasefire in Gaza in the weeks after the October 7 Hamas massacre.
Recalling that attack in southern Israel, Starmer says now: “I know exactly why it was important for our country to steer a careful path in the aftermath of a horrific attack.”
He added that his government’s message had also been clear on the need for Israel to provide more humanitarian aid to Gaza, “with a terrible situation evolving there.”
But in his speech on Monday, Starmer was also keen to reflect on the genuine achievements of his time in No. 10.
He spoke of new measures to tackle antisemitism in schools, universities and hospitals, and online.
Of both his pride and sorrow at announcing the need for £250m to fund more police officers and further strengthen security around schools, synagogues and community centres.
“Backing words with action – and ensuring Jewish communities can live in this country free from fear,“ said Starmer.
He also spoke of the need to counter the violence and intimidation on our streets coming from foreign states.
The sanctioning, that very day, of “a criminal group called the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right” which publicly claimed seven attacks at UK locations linked to Jewish and Israeli communities and Persian-language media.
“Sitting behind them were members of Iran’s IRGC Quds Force,” said Starmer, who then confirmed that the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood would that same day be designating the IRGC under new national security laws.
“I really listened; really heard you,” reflected Starmer. “And I’ve had you in my mind’s eye when making decisions as Prime Minister.
“Because this is not who we are as a country. And it is a test of our values to change this.”
Perhaps hinting at the nature of his future work, and having praised the work of groups like the Holocaust Educational Trust in tackling antisemitism, Starmer concluded: “And if there’s one takeaway from the last two years, I’d say it’s got to be a whole of society fight.
“It’s got to be every single person in this country cares about this country in this fight. It isn’t a fight for others that we stand by and support.
“It is our fight. It’s got to be the fight of every decent, reasonable person in this country.”
Starmer was also keen to reflect on the genuine achievements of his time in No 10.
“I really listened; really heard you,” reflected Starmer. “And I’ve had you in my mind’s eye when making decisions as Prime Minister. Because this is not who we are as a country. And it is a test of our values to change this.”
Starmer concluded: “If there’s one takeaway from the last two years, I’d say it’s got to be a whole of society fight.
“It’s got to be every single person in this country cares about this country in this fight. It isn’t a fight for others that we stand by and support. It is our fight. It’s got to be the fight of every decent, reasonable person in this country.”