Sir Keir Starmer has had an "unsettling" portrait of Margaret Thatcher removed from the study at No10, according to his biographer. The PM asked for it to be taken down soon after moving in.
Biographer reveals PM's decision
Tom Baldwin said he asked Sir Keir if he would "get rid of it" as they sat together in what is unofficially known as the Thatcher Room. The PM nodded, agreeing with Baldwin that the likeness was "a bit unsettling with her staring down".
Portrait history and reactions
The portrait, painted by royal artist Richard Stone and commissioned by Gordon Brown, was unveiled to Margaret Thatcher in 2009. Top Tories have criticized Sir Keir for the removal, with Tory MP Greg Smith stating it showed "no respect for our history and previous prime ministers" and Sir Jacob-Rees Mogg calling it "petty minded".
Sir Keir has previously praised Lady Thatcher for effecting "meaningful change" in Britain and "setting loose our natural entrepreneurialism".
