Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer has launched an official account on the social media platform TikTok, despite the app being banned on government-issued devices. The move appears aimed at engaging younger voters ahead of upcoming political events.

Starmer’s first post featured a video recorded at Downing Street, in which he and his wife urged viewers to follow his account as he proceeded to switch on Christmas lights outside the residence.

TikTok, a platform owned by the Chinese technology company ByteDance, has approximately 30 million users in the United Kingdom. Although the app has been prohibited on government devices since 2023 due to security concerns, Members of Parliament are permitted to use it on their personal phones.

The Labour leader’s adoption of TikTok comes as he prepares for a significant trade delegation to China scheduled for next month. The trip is expected to focus on strengthening economic ties between the UK and China, despite ongoing discussions around data security and geopolitical challenges related to technology exchanges.

The decision to engage on a platform that remains restricted for official government use highlights the balancing act political figures face in navigating digital outreach while addressing cybersecurity risks identified by authorities.