Labour of love
The UK's prime minister-elect Keir Starmer is eerily similar to his Australian counterpart and close confidant, Anthony Albanese. He may soon discover that leading an opposition is one thing, running a government another entirely.
When Sir Keir Starmer is sworn in as UK’s 58th prime minister in the coming days, Australia’s 31st Anthony Albanese will be watching on intently.
Starmer’s long-awaited election victory, after a campaign more coronation than contest, was rubber stamped on Friday morning. The victory was emphatic with the Tories set to suffer the worst result in their history.
There are many parallels between the incoming Starmer and Australia’s incumbent. In fact, a fledgling friendship between the pair that began in opposition and strengthened during the COVID-19 will now continue into the highest offices in each country.
Since the outgoing Rishi Sunak called a shock election six weeks ago, Albanese and Starmer have communicated regularly – though informally – via text messages.
