History of Keir Starmer in Timeline

Keir Starmer is a British politician and lawyer, currently serving as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2024 and Leader of the Labour Party since 2020. He also served as Leader of the Opposition from 2020 to 2024. Starmer has been the Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015. Prior to entering politics, he was the Director of Public Prosecutions from 2008 to 2013, highlighting his extensive legal background.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

September 1962: Keir Starmer's Birth

In September 1962, Keir Rodney Starmer was born. He is a British politician and lawyer.

September 1962: Birth of Keir Starmer

On 2 September 1962, Keir Rodney Starmer was born in Southwark, south east London, and grew up in Oxted, Surrey.

1976: Reigate Grammar School becomes independent

In 1976, Reigate Grammar School converted into an independent fee-paying school while Keir Starmer was a student there.

1985: Graduated from the University of Leeds

In 1985, Keir Starmer graduated from the University of Leeds with a first class LLB.

1986: Editor of Socialist Alternatives

From 1986 to 1987, Starmer served as the editor of Socialist Alternatives, a Trotskyist radical magazine.

1986: Took BCL degree from the University of Oxford

In 1986, Keir Starmer pursued postgraduate studies in jurisprudence taking a Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) degree from the University of Oxford.

1987: Editor of Socialist Alternatives

From 1986 to 1987, Starmer served as the editor of Socialist Alternatives, a Trotskyist radical magazine.

1987: Became a Barrister

In 1987, Starmer became a barrister at the Middle Temple.

1990: Served as a legal officer for Liberty

Starmer served as a legal officer for the campaign group Liberty until 1990. He then became a member of Doughty Street Chambers.

1997: Comparison to the 1997 general election

Starmer's general election victory in 2024 led to comparisons to the 1997 general election.

1999: Junior barrister on Lee Clegg's appeal

In 1999, Starmer was a junior barrister on Lee Clegg's appeal.

2001: Comparison to the 2001 general election

Starmer's general election victory in 2024 led to comparisons to the 2001 general election.

April 2002: Appointed Queen's Counsel

On 9 April 2002, Keir Starmer was appointed Queen's Counsel, aged 39.

2002: Member of Death Penalty Advisory Panel

From 2002, Starmer served as a human rights advisor to the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the Association of Chief Police Officers, and was also a member of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's Death Penalty Advisory Panel.

2002: Appointed Queen's Counsel

In 2002, Keir Starmer was appointed Queen's Counsel.

2002: Largest party in local government

In 2002, Labour achieved its status as the largest party in local government, a position it regained in 2023. This represents a significant milestone in the party's performance.

2003: Protest against the Iraq War

Following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Starmer authored legal opinions and marched in protest against the Iraq War.

2004: Engagement to Victoria Alexander

Keir Starmer and Victoria Alexander became engaged in 2004 after working on the same case.

2005: Bar Council's Sydney Elland Goldsmith Award

In 2005, Starmer received the Bar Council's Sydney Elland Goldsmith Award for his outstanding contribution to pro bono work.

2005: Statement on Queen's Counsel

In 2005, Starmer said "I got made a Queen's Counsel, which is odd since I often used to propose the abolition of the monarchy".

2005: First time since 2005 as largest party in England

In 2024, Labour became the largest party in England for the first time since 2005. The result of the 2024 election marked a significant milestone for the Labour party.

2005: First Labour PM since Tony Blair

In July 2024, with his appointment, Starmer became the first Labour prime minister to win a general election since Tony Blair in 2005.

May 2007: Marriage to Victoria Alexander

On May 6, 2007, Keir Starmer married Victoria Alexander at the Fennes Estate near Bocking, Essex.

July 2008: Appointed Head of the Crown Prosecution Service

In July 2008, Patricia Scotland, Attorney General for England and Wales, named Starmer as the new Head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

November 2008: Took office as DPP

On 1 November 2008, Keir Starmer took office as Director of Public Prosecutions.

2008: Director of Public Prosecutions

In 2008, Keir Starmer became the Director of Public Prosecutions.

2008: End of term as advisor

In 2008, Starmer's term as a member of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's Death Penalty Advisory Panel ended.

2009: Became a bencher

In 2009, Starmer became a bencher at the Middle Temple.

February 2010: CPS to prosecute MPs

In February 2010, Keir Starmer, as the Director of Public Prosecutions, announced that the CPS would prosecute three Labour MPs and one Conservative peer for false accounting after the parliamentary expenses scandal. All were later found guilty. This shows Starmer's commitment to prosecuting politicians regardless of their party affiliation.

2010: First time since 2010 as largest party in Scotland

In 2024, Labour became the largest party in Scotland for the first time since 2010. This marked a notable achievement for the Labour party in Scotland.

2010: First Labour PM since Gordon Brown

In July 2024, with his appointment, Starmer became the first Labour prime minister since Gordon Brown in 2010.

2011: Awarded honorary degrees

From 2011 to 2014, Keir Starmer was awarded several honorary degrees. This recognition highlights his contributions and standing in the legal and public sectors.

2011: Introduced reforms

In 2011, during his time as DPP, Starmer introduced reforms that included the "first test paperless hearing".

2011: Prioritising rapid prosecutions of rioters

In 2011, during the England riots, Keir Starmer prioritized rapid prosecutions of rioters over long sentences, which he later stated helped bring the situation under control. This event is noteworthy due to its impact on law and order during a time of social unrest.

February 2012: Prosecution of Chris Huhne

In February 2012, Keir Starmer announced that Chris Huhne would be prosecuted for perverting the course of justice. Starmer stated that the CPS would not shy away from prosecuting politicians if there was sufficient evidence, reinforcing his stance on accountability in public office.

2012: Allegations in "Twitter joke trial" and Savile's abuse crimes exposed

In 2012, Nick Cohen alleged that Starmer was responsible for the prosecution in the "Twitter joke trial," which the CPS denied. Also in 2012, when Jimmy Savile's sexual abuse crimes were exposed, Starmer stated that people rightfully wanted to know why Savile had been allowed to get away with his crimes for so long.

November 2013: Stepping down as Director of Public Prosecutions

In November 2013, Keir Starmer stepped down as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and was succeeded by Alison Saunders. This marked the end of his tenure in that significant public role.

2013: Changes to sexual abuse investigations

In 2013, Keir Starmer announced changes to how sexual abuse investigations were to be handled amid Operation Yewtree. This included the implementation of a panel to review complaints, marking a significant shift in the handling of such cases.

2013: End of term as Director of Public Prosecutions

In 2013, Keir Starmer's term as Director of Public Prosecutions ended.

December 2014: Selection as Labour candidate

In December 2014, Keir Starmer was selected as the Labour parliamentary candidate for Holborn and St Pancras after Frank Dobson's decision to retire. This marked a significant step towards his entry into parliamentary politics.

2014: Represented Croatia at the International Court of Justice

In 2014, Starmer represented Croatia at the genocide hearings before the International Court of Justice at The Hague.

2014: Appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath

In the 2014 New Year Honours, Keir Starmer was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) for "services to law and criminal justice." This is a significant honor recognizing his contributions to the legal field.

2014: Knighted in the New Year Honours

In the 2014 New Year Honours, Keir Starmer was knighted and appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) for "services to law and criminal justice".

September 2015: Appointed Shadow Home Office Minister

In September 2015, Keir Starmer was appointed to Jeremy Corbyn's Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Home Office Minister. This appointment marked a significant step in his political career.

2015: Belief about Iraq War

In 2015 Starmer stated that he believed that the 2003 Iraq war was "not lawful under international law because there was no UN resolution expressly authorising it".

2015: Became MP for Holborn and St Pancras

In 2015, Keir Starmer became the Member of Parliament (MP) for Holborn and St Pancras.

2015: Elected to the House of Commons

In 2015, Keir Starmer was elected to the House of Commons at the general election.

2015: Refusal to confirm naming

In 2015, Starmer did not confirm whether he was named after the Labour Party's first parliamentary leader, Keir Hardie.

2015: Urged to stand in Labour leadership election

In 2015, following Ed Miliband's resignation as Leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer was urged to stand in the Labour Party leadership election. However, he ruled this out, citing his relative lack of political experience at the time and supported Andy Burnham.

June 2016: Resigned from Shadow Cabinet

In June 2016, Keir Starmer resigned from his role as Shadow Home Office Minister. His resignation was part of the widespread Shadow Cabinet resignations in protest at Jeremy Corbyn's leadership following the 2016 EU Referendum result.

September 2016: Appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union

Following Jeremy Corbyn's re-election in September 2016, Keir Starmer accepted a new post as Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union. This new role positioned him as a key figure in scrutinizing the government's Brexit plans.

2016: Support for remaining in the EU

During the 2016 European Union membership referendum, Keir Starmer supported the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign. This campaign advocated for the UK to remain in the European Union (EU).

2016: Supported Remain campaign in EU membership referendum

In 2016, Keir Starmer supported the Remain campaign in the European Union membership referendum and advocated a proposed second referendum on Brexit.

July 2017: Sworn of the Privy Council

On July 19, 2017, Keir Starmer was sworn of the Privy Council, according him the honorific prefix of "the Right Honourable".

2017: Re-election as MP

In 2017, Keir Starmer was re-elected as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras at the general election, increasing his majority to 30,509 (70.1 per cent). This demonstrated strong support from his constituency.

2019: Drop in party membership

During Starmer's tenure as leader, Labour saw a drop in party membership from a peak of 532,000 after the 2019 election to 370,450 in the runup to the 2024 election. This reflects the challenges of maintaining party support.

2019: Corbyn's Resignation

Following Labour's defeat at the 2019 general election and Corbyn's resignation, Starmer succeeded him.

2019: Corbyn's resignation announcement

Following the defeat at the 2019 general election, Jeremy Corbyn announced that he would not lead Labour at the next general election after "a process of reflection".

2019: Re-election as MP with reduced majority

In 2019, Keir Starmer was re-elected as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras in the general election. However, his majority was reduced to 27,763 (64.9 per cent), indicating a shift in voter support.

January 2020: Announced candidacy for Labour leadership

On 4 January 2020, Keir Starmer announced his candidacy for the Labour leadership election. He received support from prominent figures such as former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

April 2020: Declared winner of Labour leadership contest

On 4 April 2020, Keir Starmer was declared the winner of Labour's leadership contest. He defeated his rivals, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy, with 56.2 per cent of the vote in the first round, marking a significant moment in his career.

October 2020: Acceptance of EHRC report on antisemitism

In October 2020, following the release of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)'s report into antisemitism in the Labour Party, Keir Starmer accepted its findings in full and apologised to Jews on the Party's behalf. This was a critical step in addressing the issue of antisemitism within the Labour Party.

2020: Became Leader of the Labour Party

In 2020, Keir Starmer became the Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition.

2020: Won Labour Leadership Election

In 2020, Keir Starmer won the Labour leadership election.

March 2021: Call for Longer Sentences for Rape and Sexual Violence

Following the murder of Sarah Everard in March 2021, Keir Starmer called for longer sentences for rape and sexual violence.

May 2021: First Shadow Cabinet reshuffle

In May 2021, Keir Starmer conducted his first reshuffle of the Shadow Cabinet. These reshuffles saw a change in the representation of different factions within the party.

November 2021: Second Shadow Cabinet reshuffle

In November 2021, Keir Starmer undertook a second reshuffle of his Shadow Cabinet. The reshuffles generally reduced the representation of the left and soft left on the Opposition frontbench, while increasing the representation of the Party's right.

2021: Considered resigning after local election results

Following Labour's mixed results in the 2021 local elections, Keir Starmer considered resigning. However, he decided to stay on, feeling "vindicated" in his decision to continue leading the party.

2021: Hartlepool by-election loss

In 2021, during Keir Starmer's tenure as Opposition Leader, his party suffered the loss of a previously safe Labour seat at the Hartlepool by-election. This result indicated challenges in maintaining traditional Labour strongholds.

May 2022: Pledge to resign amid "beergate" controversy

In May 2022, Keir Starmer stated that he would resign if he received a fixed penalty notice for breaching COVID-19 regulations during campaign activities in the run-up to the Hartlepool by-election and local elections the previous year. This controversy became known as "beergate."

July 2022: Cleared by Durham Police in "beergate" investigation

In July 2022, Durham Police cleared Keir Starmer of any wrongdoing in the "beergate" investigation, stating that he had "no case to answer." This concluded the police investigation into alleged breaches of COVID-19 regulations.

July 2022: Vote of no confidence proposed

In July 2022, amidst a historic number of ministers resigning from Boris Johnson's government, Keir Starmer proposed a vote of no confidence in the Government. He asserted that Johnson should not be allowed to remain in office.

August 2022: Breach of MPs' code of conduct

In August 2022, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Kathryn Stone, found that Keir Starmer had breached the MPs' code of conduct eight times. The breaches were due to failing to register interests on eight occasions.

2022: Gordon Brown's Report on British Constitutional Reforms

In 2022, Gordon Brown's report, endorsed by Starmer, recommended abolishing the House of Lords, extending greater powers to local councils and mayors, and deeper devolution to the countries of the United Kingdom.

2022: Elected Honorary Fellow of St Edmund Hall, Oxford

In 2022, Keir Starmer was elected an Honorary Fellow of St Edmund Hall, Oxford.

2022: Holds and gains in by-elections

In 2022, Labour held seats at the Birmingham Erdington and City of Chester by-elections. The party also gained a seat from the Conservatives at the Wakefield by-election, reflecting mixed electoral results.

February 2023: Labour no longer monitored by EHRC

In February 2023, Keir Starmer's antisemitism reforms resulted in the Labour Party no longer being monitored by the EHRC. This marked a significant achievement in addressing and resolving issues of antisemitism within the party.

April 2023: Starmer's Economist Interview on Defining Starmerism

In April 2023, Keir Starmer gave an interview to The Economist, defining "Starmerism". Two main strands were identified: critiquing the British state's ineffectiveness and over-centralisation, and adhering to an economic policy of "modern supply-side economics".

May 2023: Starmer Speech

In a speech in May 2023, Starmer stated...

June 2023: Starmer's Time Interview Defining Starmerism

In June 2023, Keir Starmer defined "Starmerism" in an interview with Time, emphasising the need to fix the economy, address climate change as a major opportunity, reform public services, and ensure a safe environment.

September 2023: Third Shadow Cabinet reshuffle

In September 2023, Keir Starmer conducted a third reshuffle of his Shadow Cabinet. These reshuffles reduced the representation of the left and soft left on the Opposition frontbench, while increasing the representation of the Party's right.

December 2023: Starmer Uses Thatcher, Blair, and Attlee as Examples

In December 2023, Keir Starmer cited Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, and Clement Attlee as examples of politicians who effected "meaningful change" by serving the British people.

2023: Gains in local elections

During the 2023 local elections, Labour gained more than 500 councillors and 22 councils. This made them the largest party in local government for the first time since 2002.

2023: Labour Party gains in local elections

In 2023, Keir Starmer's Labour Party made significant gains in the local elections.

May 2024: Announcement of general election

On 22 May 2024, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that a general election would be held on 4 July 2024. This announcement set the stage for a major political contest.

June 2024: Pledge to Reduce Legal Immigration

In June 2024, Keir Starmer pledged to reduce the record high level of legal immigration to the UK by improving training and skills for British workers.

June 2024: Release of the Labour Party's 2024 manifesto

In June 2024, Keir Starmer released the Labour Party's 2024 manifesto, titled "Change". The manifesto focused on economic growth, healthcare, education, and strengthening workers' rights. It outlined specific pledges such as a new publicly-owned energy company (Great British Energy) and a "Green Prosperity Plan".

July 2024: Attends NATO Summit

As prime minister, Keir Starmer's first overseas meeting was the 2024 NATO summit held in Washington from 9 to 11 July 2024, committing to increase defence spending.

July 2024: Starmer Assures Netanyahu of Continued Cooperation

In July 2024 Keir Starmer assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the UK government would continue its "vital cooperation to deter malign threats" with Israel.

July 2024: First Prime Minister's Questions

In July 2024, Keir Starmer attended his first Prime Minister's Questions in parliament.

July 2024: Starmer's Statement to PinkNews on LGBT Rights

In July 2024, Keir Starmer stated to PinkNews that the Labour Party supported LGBT rights, including strengthening protections against hate crimes, modernising the gender recognition framework, and a proposed, trans-inclusive ban on conversion therapy.

July 2024: General Election

In July 2024, a general election was scheduled, with Labour entering the contest with a significant lead in opinion polls. The potential scale of Labour's victory was a prominent topic throughout the campaign.

July 2024: Biden Congratulates Starmer

In July 2024, following the 2024 general election, US President Joe Biden congratulated Keir Starmer and they discussed the Special Relationship between the US and the UK, as well as their mutual support of Ukraine.

July 2024: Appointed Prime Minister

On 5 July 2024, as the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons, Keir Starmer was appointed Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, and Minister for the Civil Service by King Charles III. He became the first Labour prime minister since Gordon Brown in 2010 and the first to win a general election since Tony Blair in 2005.

July 2024: Labour Withdraws Whip From MPs

On July 23 2024, the Labour Party withdrew the whip from seven MPs who supported an amendment to scrap the two-child benefit cap. The MPs were later suspended for six months.

August 2024: Public Sector Pay Increase

In August 2024, Keir Starmer's government agreed to increase public-sector worker pay by 5 to 7 per cent.

August 2024: Talks towards Germany-UK co-operation

On 27 August 2024, Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced talks towards revising a Germany-UK co-operation agreement covering areas including defence, energy security, science and technology.

September 2024: Criticism for Accepting Gifts

In September 2024, Keir Starmer and senior government ministers faced criticism for accepting gifts from Labour donors.

September 2024: Starmer Meets Donald Trump

In September 2024, Keir Starmer met Republican Party presidential candidate Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York City, aiming to establish a working relationship.

September 2024: Suspension of Arms Sales to Israel

In September 2024, under Keir Starmer's premiership, the licences of some British arms sales to Israel were suspended due to concerns about violations of international law.

September 2024: No More Money for NHS without Reform

On 11 September 2024, Keir Starmer pledged that there would be no more money for the NHS without reform due to the NHS in England being in a critical condition.

September 2024: Adoption of Kitten Prince

Since September 2024, Starmer and his family have kept a Siberian kitten, named Prince, at 10 Downing Street.

October 2024: Enhancement of Employment Regulations

On 10 October 2024, the Labour Government implemented the most significant enhancement of employment regulations in a generation.

October 2024: Rachel Reeves Presents Budget

On 30 October 2024, Chancellor Rachel Reeves presented the Labour Party's first Budget in over 14 years to the House of Commons. It focused on investment, healthcare, education, childcare, sustainable energy, transport, and worker's rights enrichment.

November 2024: Meets Xi Jinping

In November 2024, Keir Starmer met Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, expressing his desire to build a 'consistent, durable, respectful' relationship with China.

December 2024: Death of Brother Nick

On December 26, 2024, Starmer's brother Nick died following a cancer diagnosis.

2024: Comments on Family Life During Election Campaign

During the 2024 general election campaign, Starmer expressed concerns about the impact of becoming prime minister on his children and stated he would try to avoid working after 6 p.m. on Fridays to observe Shabbat dinners.

2024: Became Prime Minister

In 2024, Keir Starmer became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

2024: Led Labour to landslide victory in general election

In 2024, Keir Starmer led Labour to a landslide victory at the general election. Under Starmer's premiership the government has ended certain winter fuel payments for around 10 million people, implemented an early-release scheme for thousands of prisoners, and settled a number of public-sector strikes. Starmer has also announced the Border Security Command, a National Violent Disorder Programme, reforms to workers' rights and an increase in the minimum wage. In foreign policy, he has supported Ukraine in the Russia-Ukraine war and Israel in the Gaza war, whilst also calling for a ceasefire in the latter conflict.

2024: Distancing from Corbyn's leadership

In 2024, Keir Starmer revealed he was "certain that we would lose the 2019 election" and began to distance himself from Jeremy Corbyn's leadership and many of the policies put forward at the general election. This distancing reflects a shift in the Labour Party's direction under Starmer's leadership.

2024: Labour Party gains in local elections

In 2024, Keir Starmer's Labour Party made significant gains in the local elections.

2024: Membership decline

In 2024, the Labour Party saw more than 20,000 members leave within two months. This decline was attributed to the party's stance on the Gazan genocide and green investment, reflecting internal disagreements.

2024: Re-elected as MP with further reduced majority

In the 2024 general election, Keir Starmer was re-elected as MP for Holborn and St Pancras. His majority was further reduced to 18,884 (48.9 per cent), reflecting continued changes in the political landscape.

2024: Labour's 2024 Election Manifesto Commitments

Labour's 2024 election manifesto committed to removing the remaining hereditary peers from the House of Lords, setting a mandatory retirement age of 80, and starting a consultation on replacing the Lords with a more representative body.