President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, on the victory of his party in the United Kingdom general election.
Tinubu commended the determination and courage the new UK Prime Minister demonstrated throughout his years in the opposition and as the leader of the Labour Party, saying the party’s ability to reform, mobilise, and position itself for victory after 14 years affirmed the leadership qualities of Starmer.
The president, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, on Friday, July 5, 2024, also congratulated the citizens and the government of the United Kingdom, describing the UK as an abiding model of democracy and Nigeria’s long-standing partner.
He added that he looks forward to deepening relations between Nigeria and the UK in mutual areas of interest and in strengthening democratic institutions, as well as in building a safer and more prosperous future for the people of both countries.
The Labour Party won a landslide victory in the UK general election on Thursday, making Starmer the country’s first Labour prime minister in 14 years.
Keir Starmer to become Prime Minister as Labour Party wins UK election
61-year-old Starmer was named after Keir Hardie, founder of the Labour Party of which his parents were staunch supporters, and grew up in a small town in Surrey.
The first among four siblings to receive higher education, Starmer attended the University of Leeds from where he graduated with honours and a law degree before heading to Oxford for postgraduate studies.
Starmer then became a barrister in 1987, specialising in human rights law and represented death row inmates in Africa and the Caribbean.
Often providing legal advice for free, Starmer also worked on several high-profile cases including the defence of environmental activists against McDonald’s and Shell.
In 2008, Starmer was appointed Director of Public Prosecutions where he oversaw the prosecution of MPs charged with embezzlement and journalists accused of phone hacking.
He was first elected to parliament in 2015, serving as a member of his London constituency where he lived with his wife and their two children.
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