How Keir Starmer, former flautist, was shaped by ‘many opportunities’ of music

Prime minister says music was great joy' of his youth and he wants to reverse degrading of creative arts'

His father - as we know - was a toolmaker, and he has spoken often of the pebble-dashed semi where he grew up. But when Keir Starmer addressed the Labour party conference this week it was a less familiar aspect of his childhood that he chose to highlight.

One of the things that had given him great joy" as a child, as well as the football, obviously", was playing the flute, he told delegates in Liverpool. I don't think you were expecting that, were you?"