Fury as Sir Keir Starmer removes ‘unsettling’ portrait of Margaret Thatcher from study at No10

SIR Keir Starmer has had an “unsettling” portrait of Margaret Thatcher removed from the study at No10.

The PM asked for it to be taken down soon after moving in, according to his biographer.

PA:Press Association

Sir Keir Starmer has had an ‘unsettling’ portrait of Margaret Thatcher removed from the study at No10[/caption]

Getty

Starmer has been slammed by top Tories over the decision[/caption]

Tom Baldwin said he asked Sir Keir if he would “get rid of it” as they sat together in what is unofficially known as the Thatcher Room.

He said the PM then nodded, agreeing with Baldwin that the likeness was “a bit unsettling with her staring down”.

The portrait, painted by royal artist Richard Stone, was commissioned by Gordon Brown and unveiled to the Iron Lady at a reception in 2009.

Tory MP Greg Smith said its removal showed Sir Keir had “no respect for our history and previous prime ministers”.

Former Tory minister Sir Jacob-Rees Mogg called it “petty minded”.

Sir Keir has previously praised Lady Thatcher for effecting “meaningful change” in Britain and “setting loose our natural entrepreneurialism”.