What does Starmer hang on his wall?

Political artwork has rather dominated the headlines of late. After Sir Keir’s peculiar opposition to the ‘unsettling’ painting of his predecessor Margaret Thatcher, Mr S has been interested in learning more about what artwork is deemed acceptable to the Labour lot. Via a Freedom of Information request, Steerpike can now reveal which Parliamentary Art Collection works adorn the walls of Britain’s top politicians.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Starmer is surrounded by the portraits of his prime ministerial predecessors – including Winston Churchill, Pitt the Younger, Robert Peel and Benjamin Disraeli. Curiously, no former female PMs make the cut – with the Iron Lady already having been moved from the No. 10 study to Downing Street’s first-floor meeting room. Meanwhile the office of Sir Keir’s deputy, Angela Rayner, has a more architectural focus featuring four prints of Westminster alongside a portrait of Sir Edward Croke – considered by many the most impressive jurist of his time. It’s perhaps a fitting reminder of Rayner’s recent run-ins with the law… 

While most cabinet ministers have their offices covered with pictures of parliament, there are some rather abstract gems too.