Keir Starmer: What trait do you most dislike in other people? — FLAPSS

The question

What trait do you most dislike in other people?

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

A verbatim standing question in The Guardian's rotating Q&A questionnaire, documented across respondents and years.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

KS

Keir Starmer

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here

Disrespect. My dad was a toolmaker and worked in a factory all his life, and he felt looked down on, and it really affected him. And so all my life I’ve loathed disrespect and valued respect.

The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 August 2023 source ↗

Others on this question

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Insensitivity. Indifference about what is right or wrong. Indifference about justice.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, April 2018 source ↗

Rose Tremain English writer

Talking in cliches. We have the most economic, resonant and versatile language in the world, yet so many people use it in a dull and boring way.

Recorded The Guardian, The Q&A, The Guardian, 23 April 2022 source ↗

People who aren’t polite.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 1 November 2025 source ↗

False humility.

Recorded Vanity Fair, The Proust Questionnaire, Vanity Fair, December 2013 source ↗

More from Keir Starmer

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Question How would you want people to remember you? Death & what remains

As someone who delivered a bold and reforming Labour government, as a great dad and a great friend.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 August 2023 source ↗

Question Which trait in yourself do you like least? Identity & self

Vic, my wife, has over the years reduced my impatience, but anybody who has been in a traffic jam with me will know that she hasn’t completed the task yet.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 August 2023 source ↗

Question What is the harshest thing anyone has said to you? Failure & regret

There are yards and yards and yards of abuse every day. I ignore the lot of it.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 August 2023 source ↗

Question How close have you come to dying? Death & what remains

Before I was DPP, I did a lot of work trying to get rid of the death penalty in various countries, and one was Malawi. We’d been in court in Zomba and had to get a plane in Lilongwe, about 200 miles away. We got a local taxi: the guy changed his wheels for the journey because the car wasn’t roadworthy and then hurtled at speed, mostly on the wrong side of the road. I’ve never been so terrified.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 August 2023 source ↗

Question What one change would most improve the quality of your daily life? Daily life

Having more time to spend with Vic and the kids.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 August 2023 source ↗

Question What would you most want to leave your children? Death & what remains

Ever since they were born, Vic and I have been clear: happiness and confidence are the two things we want most for our children and the rest can all fall into place.

Recorded The Q&A, The Guardian, 19 August 2023 source ↗

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