KEIR Starmer is the current leader of the Labour party after amassing over 50 per cent of the public vote in April 2020.
The former shadow Brexit Secretary is leading the opposition against the Tories to ensure they remain held accountable in Government.
Who is Keir Starmer?
Keir Starmer is a barrister and politician from London.
He was a human rights lawyer before becoming an MP, and co-founded Doughty Street Chambers in 1990.
The barrister has worked to eradicate the death penalty in the Caribbean, and Africa, and most recently in Taiwan.
He worked as human rights adviser to the Policing Board in Northern Ireland, monitoring compliance of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) with the Human Rights Act.
In 2008, he was appointed Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Head of the Crown Prosecution Service for England and Wales.
And in 2014 he was awarded a knighthood for “services to law and criminal justice,” although he says he prefers not to be called “sir”.
What were the results of the leadership election?
After winning a majority of 56.2%, Keir Starmer was elected as Labour leader in April 2020.
He raked in 275,780 votes, amassing more than Mr Corbyn did when he was first elected as leader.
Running alongside him, candidate Rebecca Long Bailey won 135,218 votes while Wigan MP Lisa Nandy also fell short but is set for a job in the shadow cabinet.
Ladbrokes previously placed Sir Keir favourite for the post, offering odds of 1/7 in February.
In September, a recording, published by HuffPost UK, exposed the divisions between Mr Corbyn and frontbenchers, who have tried to oust him.
Starmer was caught on tape saying “a lot of people” think the party would do better without Jeremy Corbyn as leader.
The pair repeatedly clashed over Brexit policy with Sir Keir wanting the party to push harder for a second referendum.
What is Keir Starmer’s constituency?
Starmer has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Holborn and St Pancras.
He was elected to the seat in 2015 with a majority of 17,048.
He boosted this majority in 2017 to 30,509, before securing his seat again in 2019 with over 64 per cent of the vote.
What are Keir Starmer’s political views?
In an interview with The Guardian, Mr Starmer said: “The case for a bold and radical Labour government is as strong now as it was last Thursday [the 2019 General Election]”.
He added that Labour’s values include opposing “the moral injustice of poverty, inequality, homelessness” while advocating for internationalism and human rights”.
Here’s a breakdown of some of his views:
- Starmer was staunchly pro-remain, and has previously said he would welcome a second Brexit referendum
- He has strongly criticised anti-Semitism in the Labour party
- He has expressed that he is a socialist
- Mr Starmer has consistently voted for gay rights, including same sex marriage
- He’s expressed unwavering support for laws to promote human rights and equality
Who is Keir Starmer’s wife, Victoria, and do they have children?
The politician is married to solicitor, Victoria Starmer.
The couple married in 2007.
The pair have two children together, a son and a daughter.
