Victoria, Lady Starmer (née Alexander) is an English former solicitor and the wife of Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition and leader of the Labour Party. As of July 2024[update], she works for the National Health Service (NHS).
Victoria, Lady Starmer | |
|---|---|
| Born | Victoria Alexander London, England |
| Alma mater | Cardiff University (LL.B.) |
| Occupations |
|
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Early life
Starmer was born Victoria Alexander in London and raised in Gospel Oak, north west London. Her father, an economics lecturer, is a practicing Jew who was born to Polish-Jewish immigrants who migrated to the United Kingdom before the Second World War. Her mother, who died in 2020, was a community doctor who converted to the faith.[1] Starmer has a sister.[2]
She was educated at Channing School in Highgate, London,[3] and later graduated with degrees in law and sociology from Cardiff University, where she was president of the student union.[1]
Career
Starmer qualified as a solicitor four years after graduating, and worked for Hodge Jones & Allen, a Soho law firm specialising in street crime.[1] Since getting married, she has worked in NHS occupational health.[4][5] She will reportedly continue in her role if her husband is elected Prime Minister.[6]
Personal life
Victoria met Keir Starmer, who was then a senior barrister with Doughty Street Chambers, in the early 2000s, reportedly saying "Who the fuck does he think he is?" after their first conversation. The two eventually became close, getting engaged in 2004 and married on 6 May 2007 on the Fennes Estate in Essex.[1][7] The couple have two children, a son, who was born a year after their wedding, and a daughter, born two years after that. Both are being brought up in the Jewish faith of their mother.[8][9]
Starmer is a vegetarian. She and her husband raised their children as vegetarians until they were 10 years old, at which point they were given the option of eating meat.[10] She has kept a relatively low profile during the 2024 United Kingdom general election, having chosen not to appear on the campaign trail.[1]
As of June 2024[update], the couple reside in Kentish Town, north London.[6][11]
References
- ^ a b c d e Strick, Katie (2 July 2024). "Victoria Starmer: the no-nonsense solicitor set to become Britain's next first lady". The Standard. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ Fraser, Tali (22 May 2024). "A future First Lady? With prime ministerial power in reach for Sir Keir Starmer, his wife Victoria could emerge from her north London cocoon into the global limelight. But who is she?". Tatler. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ Baldwin, Tom (17 February 2024). "The private life of Keir Starmer — his wife and family reveal all". The Times. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ "Keir Starmer: The sensible radical". New Statesman. 31 March 2020. Archived from the original on 5 April 2020.
- ^ Pickard, Jim (7 May 2020). "Keir Starmer: 'The government has been slow in nearly all of the major decisions'". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020.
- ^ a b Thomson, Alice (8 June 2024). "Meet Victoria Starmer, Keir's wife and most trusted adviser". The Times. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
- ^ "What do we know about Sir Keir Starmer's wife, Lady Starmer?". Tatler. 24 April 2020. Archived from the original on 18 August 2020.
- ^ Harpin, Lee (16 November 2020). "Starmer: Our kids are being brought up to know their Jewish backgrounds". The Jewish Chronicle. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022.
- ^ Hall, Alice (23 May 2024). "Who Is Lady Victoria Starmer, Keir Starmer's Wife?". Grazia. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ Holl-Allen, Genevieve (26 July 2023). "Sir Keir Starmer: I didn't let my children eat meat until they were 10". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "Keir Starmer's wife: Who is Lady Starmer?". Sky News. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2024.