Keir Starmer becomes first UK PM to receive France’s Légion d’honneur | Keir Starmer
Keir Starmer has become the first UK prime minister to be awarded the Légion d’honneur by a French president for his work with France on Europe’s security.
Emmanuel Macron gave Starmer the historic honor for his leadership in forming a coalition of the willing, a group of countries headed by France and the United Kingdom, that pledged to support Ukraine at a critical moment for Europe in early 2025.
The only other British prime minister to receive a similar award (at a higher level, the Légion d’honneur Grand-Croix) was Winston Churchill in 1958 for his leadership and close ties with France during the Second World War.
Giving Starmer the honor underlines a significant change from Macron’s more acrimonious relations with some previous prime ministers; The French leader has frequently clashed with Conservatives Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss over Brexit.
In one of his last engagements on the international stage, Starmer was in Paris to attend Bastille Day celebrations, meeting British troops participating in ceremonial events and then watching the parade with Macron and others, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
At Starmer’s last coalition voluntary summit on Monday, Macron, Zelenskyy and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz praised his role on the world stage, with his approach to international relations seen as one of the strengths of his time in office.
Presenting the award, Macron said Starmer played a “historic role” in establishing the group of countries that will support Ukraine.
He said: “Prime Minister, dear Keir, I wanted to reiterate my gratitude and gratitude to the French people, of course, for your years as prime minister. But beyond that, I must say, for your personal leadership and, of course, your commitments to your country, but also for the security of our Europe, for Ukraine, for bilateral relations and for your kindness.”
“I must say that all the human qualities that we have learned to appreciate remain very important for all of us. We have found in you a very reliable and friendly partner.”
Churchill, former US president Dwight D Eisenhower, former West German president Willy Brandt and Nelson Mandela were among those who received the top Grand-Croix decoration, while more controversially the Légion d’honneur was also awarded by Jacques Chirac to then-Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2001 and to Vladimir Putin in 2006 (though it was later cancelled).
Before the award, Zelenskyy had praised Starmer’s “constant, committed support”, and the prime minister said this would continue under his successor Andy Burnham, while Merz said Starmer would “call you from time to time to get your opinion on this or that”.
Since Boris Johnson condemned Russia’s invasion in February 2022, successive British prime ministers have supported Ukraine, provided military and humanitarian aid, and imposed sanctions on Russia. This support continued under fellow Tories Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.
The coalition of volunteers is a group of more than 30 countries that have pledged financial and military support to Ukraine, imposed sanctions on Russia and proposed the deployment of a multinational peacekeeping force after hostilities end.
