KEIR Starmer has reportedly ditched plans to release an autobiography.
The Labour leader said a year ago he was writing a book which his spokesman claimed would be about his “plans for a renewed Britain” and why he believes in the “vital importance of putting integrity back into public life.”
Starmer intended to publish the book by the end of last year but according to The Times, he has decided to not go ahead with it and is repaying the £18,000 advance he received from publishers HarperCollins.
He is instead reportedly cooperating with a biography being written by former Times journalist and Labour director of communications Tom Baldwin.
It is anticipated this will be published before the General Election.
Baldwin told The Times: “A year or so ago I was asked to help Keir put together an autobiography.
“That hasn’t happened, not least because of the time pressure on him as leader of the opposition, and the advance is now being repaid to HarperCollins.
“However, I have started work on a biography of Keir which is being written with the co-operation of him and his office.”
Members of Starmer’s shadow cabinet including Lisa Nandy and Wes Streeting have brought out their own books.
Starmer has faced tough questioning this week after saying he would not repeal either the Public Order Bill or the Illegal Migration Bill, both extremely controversial pieces of Tory legislation.
He said the Public Order Bill – which ultimately led to the arrests of scores of republican protesters at the coronation – was in its “early days” and suggested fresh guidance could make improvements, despite the fact Labour voted against the legislation as it made its way through Parliament.
On the Illegal Migration Bill, the Labour leader’s spokesperson told the Byline Times it may not be “necessary” for the bill to be repealed to bring in his own reforms.
