The framework for everything I've done has been human rights. That is about protecting the vulnerable and giving people access to courts where they wouldn't otherwise have access to courts. Keir Starmer More Quotes by Keir Starmer More Quotes From Keir Starmer Brexit is so important, it would have been neglect of duty to simply sit it out. Keir Starmer brexit sit duty important You don't win elections by telling people what you're against. We're very good at listing things we don't much like about what the Tories are doing. But you win elections by telling them what you're for, what you're going to change, what's going to be better. Keir Starmer good you change people So if you want a really effective criminal justice strategy, you don't build bigger prisons, you invest money in young kids - and you accept that it's going to take years to work through, but it's a more effective strategy. Keir Starmer you money work justice I keep an open mind. Keir Starmer open keep open-mind mind I wouldn't characterise myself as a bleeding heart liberal, whatever that is. Keir Starmer liberal whatever myself heart My background is not typical of a lawyer or a DPP. My dad was a toolmaker before he retired, so he worked in a factory all his life. Keir Starmer background lawyer dad life For better or worse, when I was director of public prosecutions I had to deal with every challenge that came up, and come up with an answer. Being in opposition, you're not taking the decisions; you're saying what you would do if you were in power, and that's deeply frustrating. Keir Starmer challenge better you power Part of the reason I moved from law to politics was an increasingly profound belief that how we rebuild after the 2008 crash is going to define us for a generation. Keir Starmer generation politics law reason My parents didn't have the opportunities they would have liked, but they didn't complain about that because they thought they were part of a society where the next generation would have those opportunities. Keir Starmer generation parents thought society I spent five years prosecuting some of the most dangerous terrorists in this country, so it would be quite difficult for people to pin the charge of being soft on terrorism on me. Keir Starmer me terrorism country people I would reject wholeheartedly any notion of a Labour Party that is not committed to returning to power at the first opportunity. Of course that needs to be principled power. But standing on the sidelines looking for the purest ideology is a dereliction of the duty for any Labour member. Keir Starmer looking duty power opportunity It will be increasingly difficult to keep Scotland as a part of the U.K. I hope that doesn't happen, but everyone knows David Cameron has put that at risk. Keir Starmer everyone will difficult hope If you lose your job because there has been an influx of labour from another country, that is a legitimate cause for concern. Keir Starmer lose job you country If immigration is simply seen as a numbers game, nobody will ever win that debate. The question should be: what is it we want to achieve? What do we expect of those who are arriving? What is the basic deal? Keir Starmer nobody game win debate I always say, it's better to be asked why you're leaving, rather than when you're leaving. Keir Starmer say better you always I think most people accept that it is necessary to have some surveillance in a democratic society. I think most people accept that it's important to have limits and clear safeguards on that. Keir Starmer think society limits people There are potentially many offences that journalists could commit in the course of their business. It would be very unhealthy if you had a situation where a journalist felt that they needed to go to their lawyer before they pursued any lead or asked any question. Keir Starmer you situation lawyer business Our five-year-old son thinks I ought to work in the local bookshop, and I can see the appeal of that. Keir Starmer see i-can work son I am well aware of different views across my own party and across parliament on pretty well all Brexit issues. Keir Starmer brexit i-am my-own party We need to remind ourselves that Europe will be our biggest trading partner for the next several decades and probably beyond, so getting the deal with Europe right should be our primary focus. Keir Starmer partner need will focus
