Keir Starmer Biography

(Party leader of the Labour Party)

Birthday: September 2, 1962 (Virgo)

Born In: Southwark, London, England

Keir Starmer is a British barrister and politician who has been serving as the leader of the Labour Party and of the opposition since April 2020. He has also been serving as the MP of Holborn and St. Pancras since 2015. He served as the shadow minister for immigration till 2016 and as the shadow secretary of state for Brexit till 2020. During his legal career, he focused on human rights issues and was against the death sentence, especially in the Caribbean countries. From 2008 to 2013, he served as the head of the Crown Prosecution Service and the Director of Public Prosecutions. In the 2015 general election, he won and became a Labour MP. He has written numerous books and has received countless honors, including the knighthood. He is married and has two children.

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Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In September

Also Known As: Sir Keir Rodney Starmer

Age: 62 Years, 62 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Victoria Starmer

father: Rod Starmer

mother: Josephine Baker

Born Country: England

Political Leaders British Men

City: London, England, Southwark, England

More Facts

education: Reigate Grammar School (1974–1981), University of Leeds, University of Oxford, St Edmund Hall

awards: Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath

  • 1

    Is Keir Starmer the leader of the Labour Party?

    Yes, Keir Starmer is the current leader of the Labour Party in the UK.
  • 2

    What is Keir Starmer's stance on Brexit?

    Keir Starmer is a vocal supporter of remaining in the EU and has called for a second referendum in the past.
  • 3

    What is Keir Starmer's background in law?

    Keir Starmer is a former human rights lawyer who served as the Director of Public Prosecutions before entering politics.
  • 4

    Has Keir Starmer held any previous political positions?

    Before becoming the leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer served as the Shadow Brexit Secretary and the Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union.
  • 5

    What are Keir Starmer's key policies as leader of the Labour Party?

    Keir Starmer's key policies include focusing on economic equality, improving healthcare, addressing climate change, and strengthening workers' rights.
Childhood & Early Life

Keir Rodney Starmer was born on September 2, 1962, in Southwark, London, U.K., to Josephine (née Baker) and Rodney Starmer. Keir grew up in Oxted, a town in Surrey

Keir was the second of the four children of his parents. His mother worked as a nurse, while his father was a toolmaker. Josephine suffered from Still's disease. His parents named him after Keir Hardie, the first Labour MP.

After clearing the 11-plus examination, Keir joined the Reigate Grammar School. Keir was active in Labour politics even in his teenage years. He was also part of the East Surrey Young Socialists.

Till the age of 18, he was also part of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he played the flute, recorder, piano, and violin.

Keir then joined the University of Leeds, where he studied law. In 1985, he graduated with a first class LLB degree.

He then joined the postgraduate law course at St. Edmund Hall, Oxford. In 1986, he graduated with a Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) from the University of Oxford.

From 1986 to 1987, Keir served as an editor of the magazine Socialist Alternatives.

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Political Career

In December 2014, Keir Starmer was chosen to be the Labour Party candidate from Holborn and St. Pancras, after the incumbent MP, Frank Dobson, decided to retire. In the 2015 general election, Keir won with a majority of 17,048 votes.

After Ed Miliband resigned, people expected Keir to contest in the Labour Party leadership election in 2015. However, Keir stayed away from contesting, as he believed he did not have enough political experience.

Keir supported Andy Burnham instead. Andy lost to Jeremy Corbyn. Jeremy later appointed Keir as a shadow minister for immigration. In 2016, Keir resigned from the post, along with many other MPs, as a mark of protest against Jeremy’s leadership.

On October 6, 2016, Keir was appointed as the shadow secretary of state for Brexit, replacing Emily Thornberry. Thus, Keir resigned from a law firm specializing in human rights, Mishcon de Reya LLP, where he had been working as a legal consultant.

Keir raised questions on the government's Brexit plans, calling for a public declaration of such plans. On December 6, 2016, the then-prime minister, Theresa May, stated the Brexit plans would be made public. Keir also argued that there could be a “legal vacuum” in case Britain opted for a no-deal Brexit.

Keir also suggested that there should be a cap on immigration after Brexit. In May 2017, however, Keir stated that there should be "free movement of labor,” since migrants are also responsible for the U.K.'s economy.

After the Labour Party's defeat in the 2019 general election, Jeremy Corbyn declared he would resign as the leader of the party. Following this, Keir announced he would contest in the leadership election. He was supported by a lot of MPs and the trade union Unison.

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He won and became the Labour Party leader and the leader of the opposition on April 4, 2020.

Other Works

Keir Starmer has written and edited several books on criminal law and human rights. Some of them are Justice in Error (co-edited, 1993), Signing up for Human Rights: The United Kingdom and International Standards (co-written, 1998), European Human Rights Law (1999), and Blackstone's Human Rights Digest (co-written, 2001).

He has been part of many series and shows, such as Sky Midnight News, Peston, All Out Politics, Sophy Ridge on Sunday, ITV Lunchtime News, and The News Hour with Mark Austin.

Awards & Honors

In the 2014 New Year Honours, Keir Starmer was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB). He is thus supposed to be addressed as "Sir Keir Starmer.” However, Keir prefers not to be addressed as “Sir.”

On July 19, 2017, he became part of the Privy Council. In 2005, the Bar Council awarded him the Sydney Elland Goldsmith Award for his work against the death penalty.

In 2019, he became an “Honorary Fellow” of St. Edmund Hall, Oxford. Additionally, he has received honorary degrees from countless universities, such as the University of Essex (D.U.) in 2011, the University of Leeds (LL.D.) in 2012, the University of East London (D.U.) in 2013, the London School of Economics (LL.D.) in 2013, the University of Reading (LL.D.) in 2014, and the University of Worcester (D.U.) in 2014.

Personal Life

In 2007, Keir Starmer married Victoria Alexander. Victoria was initially a solicitor and currently works in NHS occupational health.

The couple have a son and daughter. They are raising their kids according to the Jewish faith (as Victoria is a Jew).

Keir Starmer has played for the north London football team Homerton Academicals. He is an ardent fan of the Premier League team Arsenal.

Keir’s parents owned a 7-acre animal sanctuary behind their Oxted home. Keir purchased the sanctuary in 1996. Keir is a strict vegetarian.

Facts About Keir Starmer
Keir Starmer is an accomplished amateur baker, known for his impressive sourdough loaves and decadent chocolate cakes.
He is a dedicated fan of classic British sitcoms, with a particular fondness for "Fawlty Towers" and "Only Fools and Horses."
In his free time, Keir enjoys exploring the great outdoors and is an avid hiker, often taking long walks in the countryside.
He has a secret talent for playing the ukulele and has been known to entertain friends and family with impromptu performances.
Keir is a passionate advocate for animal rights and has been a vegetarian since his teenage years, regularly supporting animal welfare charities.

See the events in life of Keir Starmer in Chronological Order

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