Sir Keir Rodney Starmer was born on 2 September 1962 in Southwark, London, and raised in Oxted, Surrey. He is the second of four children of Josephine, a nurse, and Rodney Starmer, a toolmaker.
๐ Education and Early Life
Starmer passed the 11-plus examination and gained entry to Reigate Grammar School. He studied mathematics, music, and physics in the sixth form, achieving A level grades of B, B, and C.
He read law at the University of Leeds, graduating with a first class LLB in 1985. He then studied at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, taking a Bachelor of Civil Law degree in 1986.
โ๏ธ Legal Career
Starmer became a barrister in 1987 at the Middle Temple. He served as a legal officer for the campaign group Liberty until 1990 and joined the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers.
He was appointed Queenโs Counsel on 9 April 2002. Starmer served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2008 to 2013, handling major cases including the Stephen Lawrence murder case.
๐๏ธ Political Career
Starmer was elected to the House of Commons at the 2015 general election. He served under Jeremy Corbyn as Shadow Brexit Secretary and succeeded Corbyn by winning the 2020 leadership election.
Starmer led Labour to a landslide victory at the 2024 general election. He has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2024 and as Leader of the Labour Party since 2020.
๐ Resignation and Unpopularity
Starmer announced his resignation from both positions on 22 June 2026. He is to remain in office until the conclusion of the 2026 Labour Party leadership election.
His net approval rating fell to an average of โ46% by November 2025. An Ipsos poll that month indicated he was the least popular prime minister since its records began in 1977.
| Category | Detail | Date | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | Born in Southwark, London | 2 September 1962 | Raised in Oxted, Surrey |
| Education | LLB from University of Leeds | 1985 | BCL from Oxford in 1986 |
| Legal Role | Director of Public Prosecutions | 2008โ2013 | Handled Stephen Lawrence case |
| Political Role | Prime Minister of the UK | 2024โ2026 | Resigned on 22 June 2026 |