Keir Starmer's Cautious Approach to Human Rights Explored in Guardian Audio Long Read
Keir Starmer, a former human rights lawyer, is the focus of a Guardian Audio Long Read published on 29 December 2025. The piece, written by Daniel Trilling, read by Simon Darwen, and produced by Nicola Alexandrou, explores why Starmer adopts a cautious stance when defending human rights in the current UK political landscape.
The article, titled 'Starmer v Starmer,' highlights a tension between his background in defending human rights and the political pragmatism guiding his leadership decisions. Many Labour supporters had hoped Starmer would renew the UK's commitment to international law, yet Labour's record over the past year on international law and human rights has been described as mixed.
This analysis is presented within the context of the Politics Weekly UK series and the Guardian's Audio Long Read format, offering insight into the balance Starmer seeks between upholding human rights principles and navigating political calculations in government.
