'Injustice is what drives me'

In a surprisingly emotional interview, Keir Starmer reveals to editor-in-chief Geordie Greig the motivation that has taken him to the cusp of power - and his fears about life in No 10 Keir Starmer has given the most revealing interview yet on his fears for his family, his regrets, and the inner anger that drives him to want to change the country.

- Geordie Greig

The Labour leader has often been accused of being too robotic or lacking passion and personality. But with Starmer on the cusp of entering No 10, he has given an emotional interview to Geordie Greig, editor-in-chief of The Independent, where tears welled up in his eyes as he expressed his innermost feelings about his life and his family. He addressed:

• How his wife Victoria is his “rock”

• How his teenage children fear their lives will dramatically change as he prepares to move the family into Downing Street – and how they “take the piss” out of their father

• How he decided not to take advice from the Blairs about life in No 10

• His regrets at never telling his late father he loved him

• How his mother’s determination to overcome her lifelong ill health fuels his own drive to bring change

• How he took on homophobic thugs who beat up a gay friend and was beaten up when he intervened

The Labour leader admitted his greatest fear about becoming prime minister is its impact on his children, as he confirmed that, if he wins on 4 July, he will be moving his family into Downing Street.

“It’s been a cause of concern for me about the impact on the kids in particular. I’m not going to pretend that they are not worried about this, because they are. Our girl is 13 and a half, our boy 15, nearly 16. It is very impactful. They’re just sort of exploring their independence, and suddenly, if we get over the line, that is going to be hard.”