- Source: Victoria Starmer
Victoria, Lady Starmer (née Alexander; born 1973 or 1974) is the spouse of the current prime minister of the United Kingdom Keir Starmer. She previously worked as a solicitor and currently works for the National Health Service (NHS) as an occupational health worker.
Early life and career
Starmer was born Victoria Alexander in either 1973 or 1974 in London. Along with an older sister, she was raised in Gospel Oak, London. Her father Bernard, an economics lecturer and observant Jew, was born to a Polish-Jewish family that emigrated to the United Kingdom prior to World War II. Her mother Barbara (died 2020) was a community doctor in the NHS who converted to Judaism upon marriage.
Alexander was educated at Channing School in Highgate, London, and later graduated with degrees in law and sociology from Cardiff University, where she served as president of the student union. After graduating from university, Alexander qualified as a solicitor and worked for Hodge Jones & Allen, a law firm specialising in street crime. At some point after her marriage, she stopped practising law and began working as an occupational health worker for the NHS.
Personal life
Alexander met Keir Starmer, then a senior barrister with Doughty Street Chambers, while working on the same case. The pair became engaged in 2004 and married on 6 May 2007 on the Fennes Estate, just north of Bocking, Essex. The couple have two children: a son (born 2008) and a daughter (born 2010); both are being brought up in their mother's Jewish heritage. The family observe Shabbat.
Starmer is a vegetarian. Their children were raised as vegetarians until they were 10 years old, at which point they were given the option of eating meat. Until moving to 10 Downing Street, the family resided in Kentish Town, north London.
Starmer has been a supporter of the Labour Party since at least her student years, notably protesting against the education reforms of the Conservative education secretary John Patten during her tenure as Cardiff University's education and welfare officer in 1993. Despite this, she kept a relatively low profile during the 2024 general election, choosing not to appear on the campaign trail. She did, however, make appearances at Labour events and state banquets which were held during the campaign.
Starmer ministry
Following Labour's landslide victory in the 2024 general election, Starmer accompanied her husband to Buckingham Palace for his appointment as prime minister by King Charles III. She subsequently accompanied him to 10 Downing Street, where he made his first speech as PM. She will reportedly continue in her role at the NHS, and is expected to keep a relatively low profile. The Daily Telegraph reported in September 2024 that Starmer had accepted two free tickets to attend an Eras Tour concert by the American singer Taylor Swift at Wembley Stadium earlier that year. In the same month, her husband faced accusations of breaking parliamentary rules by not declaring £5,000 worth of clothes bought for her by the Labour donor Lord Alli. The donations, which included a personal shopper and clothing alterations, were said to have occurred both before and after the general election.
References
Further reading
= Books
=Baldwin, Tom (2024). Keir Starmer: The Biography. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0008661021.
= Articles
=Frizzell, Nell (5 July 2024). "Could Victoria Starmer's tenure in Downing Street change the role of political wives forever?". Vogue. Archived from the original on 20 July 2024.
Addley, Esther (12 July 2024). "'She wants to get on with her life': Victoria Starmer intends to do things differently". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 July 2024.
External links
Media related to Victoria Starmer at Wikimedia Commons
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Keir Starmer
- Daftar Perdana Menteri Britania Raya
- Rishi Sunak
- Inggris
- Monarki Britania Raya
- Charles III dari Britania Raya
- Skotlandia
- Court of St James's
- Menteri Dalam Negeri Britania Raya
- Edith Cavell
- Victoria Starmer
- Keir Starmer
- Starmer (surname)
- Legal career of Keir Starmer
- Starmer ministry
- Premiership of Keir Starmer
- 2024 Labour Party freebies controversy
- List of international prime ministerial trips made by Keir Starmer
- Akshata Murty
- Political positions of Keir Starmer
