Sir Keir Starmer is a British politician and barrister who has served as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party since 2020. He has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.
Early Life and Education
Keir Starmer was born on September 2, 1962, in Southwark, London. He grew up in the town of Oxted in Surrey. His parents, Josephine (née Baker) and Rodney Starmer, were both working-class individuals who instilled in him a strong sense of social justice. Starmer's mother battled a rare, severe illness throughout her life, which had a significant impact on his upbringing. Despite the challenges, he was a bright student and passed the 11-plus examination, gaining entry to Reigate Grammar School, a selective state school that became private during his time there.
Legal Career
After completing his secondary education, Starmer studied law at the University of Leeds, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree in 1985. He then pursued postgraduate studies at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, earning a Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) degree in 1986. Starmer began practicing as a barrister at the Middle Temple, one of London's Inns of Court, in 1987. He specialized in criminal defense work, focusing on human rights issues both in the UK and overseas. He defended convicts sentenced to the death penalty in several Caribbean countries and was a member of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's death penalty advisory panel from 2002 to 2008.
Political Career
Starmer's political career began when he was elected as the Labour Party candidate for Holborn and St Pancras in 2015. He was appointed Shadow Minister for Immigration by Jeremy Corbyn but resigned in June 2016 as part of the wider shadow cabinet resignations in protest of Corbyn's leadership. Starmer later became Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, advocating for a second referendum on Brexit. Following Corbyn's resignation after the 2019 general election, Starmer won the 2020 party leadership election to succeed him.
Leadership of the Labour Party
As Leader of the Labour Party, Starmer has been instrumental in transforming the party's stance on various issues. He has emphasized the need for economic stability, promising to keep taxes, inflation, and mortgages low. Starmer has also set out five long-term missions to end "sticking plaster politics" and has pledged to restore hope and pride in the UK.
Significant Dates and Achievements
- September 2, 1962: Born in Southwark, London
- 1985: Graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Leeds
- 1986: Earned a Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) degree from St Edmund Hall, Oxford
- 1987: Began practicing as a barrister at the Middle Temple
- 2002: Appointed Queen's Counsel (now King's Counsel)
- 2008: Became Director of Public Prosecutions and Head of the Crown Prosecution Service
- 2014: Appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) for services to law and criminal justice
- 2015: Elected as Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras
- 2020: Elected as Leader of the Labour Party
Resources
- Keir Starmer - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keir_Starmer
- Keir Starmer - The Labour Party - https://labour.org.uk/people/keir-starmer/
- Keir Starmer - Britannica - https://www.britannica.com/biography/Keir-Starmer
- About Keir Starmer - https://keirstarmer.com/about-keir/
Other Information
- Keir Starmer - https://keirstarmer.com
- The Labour Party - https://labour.org.uk