Daily Mail, on UK Politics, 6 November 2026

3.0out of 10Minor

after quitting No10 as he signs up with US-based agency which boasts Joe Biden, Jacinda Ardern and Kamala Harris among its clients

Tap a highlight to see why it matters.2 findings

Sir Keir Starmer is set to cash in on lucrative speaking gigs after being turfed out of Downing Street by signing up with a US-based agency. The former prime minister, who was ousted by Andy Burnham in July, has taken up a paid role with Creative Artists Agency (CAA). The Los Angeles-headquartered firm also boasts former US President Joe Biden and ex-New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern on its books. Other clients include failed US presidential candidate Kamala Harris , human rights lawyer Amal Clooney , and actress Gwyneth Paltrow .

It is the first paid employment that Sir Keir has found since he quit Westminster entirely by resigning as MP for Holborn and St Pancras in September. The 64-year-old sought advice from Sir Laurie Magnus, the independent adviser on ministerial standards, on taking up the role. Sir Keir Starmer is set to cash in on lucrative speaking gigs after being turfed out of Downing Street by signing up with a US-based agency The Los Angeles-headquartered firm also boasts former US President Joe Biden - pictured with Sir Keir in July 2024 - on its books A profile on the CAA website states that Sir Keir 'offers a rare insider's perspective on the geopolitical, economic, and security forces reshaping Europe and the wider world'.

It adds that he 'brings firsthand insight into leading through uncertainty, driving change, and delivering results under immense pressure'. 'For business and financial audiences, he connects geopolitical decisions directly to markets, investment, competitiveness, private capital, and the global business environment,' it continues. 'From Ukraine and European security to shifting alliances and political instability, Sir Keir helps audiences understand what today's global upheaval could mean for governments, businesses, and society.'

The profile boasts of Sir Keir's work as a barrister, his role as Director of Public Prosecutions in England and Wales, and his achievements in taking Labour from opposition and into government. But it doesn't mention how his two-year premiership saw him lose the faith of Labour MPs and . Whitehall's business appointment rules require all former ministers to seek the advice of Sir Laurie for all work they wish to take up for a period of two years after leaving office.

In his advice to Sir Keir, Sir Laurie reminded the ex-premier he should not draw on any privileged information available to him when he was PM in his new role. Sir Keir was also told not to become personally involved in lobbying the Government on behalf of CAA for a two-year period. It comes after Rachel Reeves, who served as Sir Keir's Chancellor, also signed up with corporate speaking agencies. She sought approval to go on the books of the Washington Speakers Bureau and Chartwell Speakers Bureau.

Her profile on the Chartwell Speakers website describes her as 'one of the UK's most prominent economic and political figures'.

Read the original article on dailymail.com (opens in a new tab)
What we found (2)

The Daily Mail reports that Keir Starmer has signed with the speaking agency CAA and sought clearance from the standards adviser. The facts are sound. The headline states as done what the body calls only "set to" happen and calls the gigs lucrative with no fee given, and the Mail calls Andy Burnham's leadership challenge a "coup" in its own voice. Both are minor tabloid tilts that do not change what happened.

  1. Headline goes beyond the article

    Minor

    “Keir Starmer cashes in on lucrative speaking gigs”

    Why this matters
    The headline says Starmer "cashes in on lucrative speaking gigs", as if he is already earning large sums.
    The impression it gives
    A reader believes Starmer is already being paid large fees for speeches.
    The context
    The body only says he "is set to cash in" and has signed with an agency. It names no speech he has given and no fee, so the word "lucrative" has nothing behind it in the article.

    How we know

    • Elsewhere in the article“is set to cash in on lucrative speaking gigs”
    • Checked against the whole articleIt never uses the words “fee”.

    Show it in the article

  2. Uses a loaded word

    Minor

    “succumb to a coup by Mr Burnham and his allies”

    Why this matters
    In its own voice the Mail calls the change of Labour leader "a coup" and says Starmer "succumbed" to it.
    The impression it gives
    A reader takes away that power changed hands by an illegitimate seizure.
    The context
    The article's own facts describe a party leadership change in which Starmer lost the support of Labour MPs and was "ousted by Andy Burnham". Nothing in the article shows anything irregular about how it happened.

    How we know

    • Elsewhere in the article“who was ousted by Andy Burnham in July”

    Show it in the article

What it gets right

  • “sought advice from Sir Laurie Magnus, the independent adviser on ministerial standards, on taking up the role”

    The Mail reports that Starmer went through the required clearance, so readers do not take the appointment as improper.

  • “not to become personally involved in lobbying the Government on behalf of CAA for a two-year period”

    The Mail sets out the specific conditions attached to the role rather than leaving readers to guess at them.

Spot something we missed? Report this article

More from Daily Mail

  1. 6 NovParliament Square poised to be next London landmark pedestrianised - but politicians voice alarm that cyclists will run riot3.0
  2. 6 NovLondon Tube drivers to go on strike across three months as RMT union continues fight against four-day working week7.3
  3. 6 NovRussell Brand's matey time with Labour: Disgraced comic invited to give drug talk by MP later forced out by cocaine and rent boys sting - and backed hard-Left Corbyn3.0
  4. 6 NovMore Peter Mandelson files will be released before Christmas as police continue probe into his links with Jeffrey Epstein0.0
  5. 6 NovEmployers will be forced to say how much new jobs will pay when they advertise them, Andy Burnham says0.0

Everything we scored from Daily Mail