Starmer opens up on Blair, Brexit, Trump and Corbyn

In the second part of the Labour leader's exclusive interview with The Independent, he reveals his beliefs and motivations

- DAVID MADDOX

Sir Keir Starmer has laid out his political philosophy and goals, which echo the last Labour leader to end a long period in the political wilderness: Tony Blair.

As he prepares for what now seems to be an inevitable landslide victory, Starmer says: “I want people to feel ‘Thank God… our country is now better, and I feel better off’.” His words are not far from the D:Ream song that propelled Blair to victory: “Things can only get better.”

In the second part of his exclusive interview with The Independent, Starmer makes clear that he has sought Blair’s advice on transitioning from opposition to government but not necessarily on policy. Drawing the veil from his political philosophy, he speaks about:

How he would do a deal with Donald Trump

Why he believes the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) is wrong but refuses to rule out tax rises

Where he and Tony Blair disagree

Why he thinks redistribution is a good thing

Why he really stuck around in Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet

Starmer wryly acknowledges that Blair would not agree with his tax raid on independent school fees adding 20 per cent VAT, or his ending of non-dom status, something the New Labour government actually created.

But Starmer is also clear that, like Blair, he will not be bound by ideology to get what he wants for Britain. Nowhere is this more obvious than his willingness to deal with president Donald Trump if US voters return him to the White House in November.

“Yes! We’ll do a trade deal with America if we can get a trade deal over the line. Presidents are temporary while countries and deals are maybe not permanent but are certainly long term.”

With an eye not just to a potential re-election of Trump but also right-wing leaders winning in European allied states, he adds: “I will deal with the leaders of other countries as they’re elected by voters, whether in America or other places across Europe.”