In April 2020, Keir Starmer was elected Leader of the Labour Party. He took on the role just as the COVID-19 pandemic began to tear through the country. It was an unprecedented challenge for any leader, let alone one just starting out. With the nation in lockdown and public attention laser-focused on the government’s response, Starmer had to find a way to lead from the opposition. He adopted a policy of "constructive opposition," supporting the government when he believed it was in the national interest, but criticizing it sharply when he felt the handling of the pandemic was incompetent or dangerous.