Keir Starmer's Success and Achievements in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: April 1, 2026

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Keir Starmer.

Sir Keir Starmer is a British politician and lawyer, currently serving as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2024. He has been the Leader of the Labour Party since 2020, and previously 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 his political career, he was the Director of Public Prosecutions from 2008 to 2013.

Sections (5)

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

April 2002: Appointed Queen's Counsel

On 9 April 2002, Keir Starmer was appointed Queen's Counsel at the age of 39 and also became joint head of Doughty Street Chambers.

2002: Became Queen's Counsel

In 2002, Keir Starmer took silk as a Queen's Counsel.

2002: Labour becomes the largest party in local government in 2002

In 2002, Labour became the largest party in local government.

2005: Received the Bar Council's Sydney Elland Goldsmith Award

In 2005, Starmer received the Bar Council's Sydney Elland Goldsmith Award for his pro bono work challenging the death penalty in Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, and the Caribbean, marking a significant achievement in his career.

2011: Awarded honorary degrees

Between 2011 and 2014, Keir Starmer was awarded several honorary degrees.

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".

2014: Knighted in the New Year Honours

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

July 2017: Sworn of the Privy Council

In July 2017, Starmer was sworn of the Privy Council, granting him the honorific prefix "The Right Honourable."

April 2020: Declared winner of Labour leadership contest

On 4 April 2020, Keir Starmer was declared the winner of Labour's leadership contest, defeating Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy with 56.2 per cent of the vote in the first round.

2021: Starmer considered resigning after Labour's mixed results in the 2021 local elections

In 2021, Keir Starmer considered resigning from his position after Labour's mixed results in the local elections, the first local elections of his leadership. He ultimately decided to stay on, feeling "vindicated" in his decision.

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

In July 2022, Durham Police cleared Keir Starmer in the "Beergate" investigation, stating that he had "no case to answer".

2022: Holds at the 2022 Birmingham Erdington and City of Chester by-elections, as well as a gain from the Conservatives at the 2022 Wakefield by-election

In 2022, Labour held seats at the Birmingham Erdington and City of Chester by-elections, and gained a seat from the Conservatives at the Wakefield by-election.

2022: Elected Honorary Fellow of St Edmund Hall, Oxford

In 2022, Starmer was elected an Honorary Fellow of St Edmund Hall, Oxford, further acknowledging his contributions and standing.

February 2023: EHRC ended monitoring of Labour Party

In February 2023, the EHRC said that changes the Labour Party had made to its complaints and training procedures meant that the Labour Party no longer needed to be monitored by them.

2023: Labour gains more than 500 councillors and 22 councils in the 2023 local elections

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

2024: Labour gains in the 2024 local elections

In 2024, Labour made further gains at the local elections, gaining from the Conservatives at the Blackpool South by-election and narrowly winning the West Midlands mayoral election.

2024: Led Labour to Landslide Victory

In 2024, Starmer led Labour to a landslide victory at the general election, ending 14 years of Conservative government. Under his premiership, several policies were implemented, including changes to social welfare, prisoner release, border security, and foreign policy initiatives.