Sir Keir Starmer has launched his own TikTok account, despite the platform remaining banned from government devices due to ongoing security concerns.
TikTok was prohibited on government-issued phones and tablets in 2023 after Rishi Sunak’s administration reviewed the risks linked to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.
Downing Street insisted that robust “security mitigations” are in place to allow the Prime Minister to use the app safely, mirroring protections applied to an existing official UK Government TikTok account.
Starmer’s spokesperson said: “Restrictions on the use of the app on most government devices remain in place and there’s no changes to our security policy when it comes to TikTok.”
They added: “Security mitigations are in place, as with the existing UKgov account.”
Starmer’s debut post on the new “keirstarmer” account was a 13-second clip showing him at the Downing Street Christmas lights switch-on ceremony.
Explaining the decision, his spokesperson said: “We are intent on reaching audiences where they are and communication is changing and people have a right to know about the decisions the Government is taking that affect them and why and how that is.”
They continued: “TikTok is simply another way to do that and reach that wider audience.”
The official “ukgov” TikTok account, launched in February, publishes public service updates such as passport renewal reminders and information about Labour’s “Plan for Change”.
