What is the name of the likely new leader of Britain, who is Keir Starmer of Labour?

• In 14 years, the U.K. is predicted to have its first Labour prime minister.
• Rishi Sunak would be succeeded as Britain's prime minister by Keir Starmer.
• After entering parliament less than a decade ago, the 61-year-old human rights lawyer-turned-politician experienced a rapid rise to prominence.

The July 4 elections are expected to result in a landslide victory for Labour, potentially making it the first time in 14 years that Britain elects a Labour prime minister.

Rishi Sunak could be replaced as prime minister by Keir Starmer, according to exit polls indicating that the left-leaning party could have a majority of approximately 170 seats.

Despite entering U.K. parliament less than a decade ago, Starmer, 61, has experienced a rapid political rise. However, many Britons remain unfamiliar with the man who has positioned himself as the country's change candidate.

The U.K.'s new prime minister and his platform are examined by CNBC.

Human rights lawyer-turned-politician

In London, England, in 1962, Starmer was born to a father who was a toolmaker and a mother who was a nurse.

The NHS has been a source of deep gratitude for the 61-year-old, who often references his modest beginnings and his mother's lifelong battle with a severe illness as points of connection with British voters.

Starmer, the first in his family to attend university, studied law at the University of Leeds before pursuing postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford. He began his career as a barrister in 1987, taking on high-profile cases such as those against Shell, McDonald's, and former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's mine closures.

During the Northern Ireland Good Friday Agreement, Tony Blair appointed Starmer as a human rights adviser.

In 2009, a year after marrying his wife, Victoria, Starmer was appointed as the director of public prosecutions, leading the U.K.'s Crown Prosecution Service.

In 2014, Starmer was knighted for his contributions to criminal justice and was elected to Parliament the following year, where he served as the immigration and Brexit minister for the opposition.

In 2020, Keir Starmer became Labour leader and initiated a significant restructuring of the party following the resignation of Jeremy Corbyn, whose faction suffered a defeat in the 2019 election.

Pro-business, pro-reforms, pro-EU

During his 2024 election campaign, Starmer emphasized the need for a "decade of national renewal" after years of austerity and declining living standards under the Tories.

In the party's election manifesto, published last month, Starmer proposed spending measures to establish a new publicly owned energy company, decrease NHS waiting times, construct new homes, and renationalize rail services.

He also portrayed himself as a strong advocate for business, maintaining his long-standing efforts to win over conservative voters with proposals for "wealth creation" and a National Wealth Fund.

At the manifesto launch event, Starmer stated that economic growth and social justice must be intertwined.

If Labour gains power, it has five long-term objectives: boost economic growth, prioritize green energy investment, reform the NHS, enhance public safety, and promote "opportunity" through a new skills strategy. To achieve these goals, Starmer intends to implement a significant restructuring of government departments, according to Labour officials speaking to the FT.

Starmer, who supported the Remain campaign in the 2016 EU referendum in the UK, has promised to enhance the "flawed" UK-EU agreement, particularly in areas such as trade, research, and security. Nevertheless, he maintains that there is no justification for Britain to rejoin the EU.

Public image problem?

Although he has a different political agenda, many people view Starmer as an establishment figure with less charisma than other politicians. A recent YouGov poll showed that he was less popular than Nigel Farage of Reform, and his popularity among younger voters decreased even further.

Starmer's core values have been questioned by critics, including his decision to remain in Corbyn's top team despite accusations of antisemitism within Labour. Later, he suspended Corbyn from the party. Some have accused him of betraying the left by courting business leaders and abandoning promises such as abolishing university fees.

Despite the tumultuous political climate in Britain, with three Conservative prime ministers in 2022, Starmer's supporters see him as a stable and neutral figure.

— CNBC's Katrina Bishop contributed to this report.