Newsnight explores the story of the man who could be prime minister of the United Kingdom — and what that road to power may entail. Please subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog

Sir Keir Starmer was elected leader of the Labour Party six months ago, when the United Kingdom was locked down against coronavirus.

Back then Westminster was preoccupied with the virus, and the norms of the opposition were temporarily suspended.

The scrutiny of the man who had only been elected as an MP five years earlier was perhaps more cursory than would have otherwise been the case. Sir Keir identifies as a "socialist", as did Jeremy Corbyn, so what makes his politics different?

And as a former member of Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet, was Starmer planning his leadership campaign as far back as last year's general election?

Newsnight’s Policy Editor Lewis Goodall investigates the story of the man who could be prime minister — and what that road to power may entail.

After this report aired on BBC Two, Unite the Union’s General Secretary Len McCluskey tweeted out the following:

“Before this gets out of hand, let me say language is important and I apologise to Peter Mandelson and anyone else if mine has caused hurt.”

Newsnight is the BBC's flagship news and current affairs TV programme - with analysis, debate, exclusives, and robust interviews.

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