Keir Starmer, who is widely predicted to become prime minister on July 5, has avoided drawing attention to his family thus far in this general election campaign. His wife Victoria has also not been spotted at all on the campaign trail.
It’s clear that “her absence is very much part of her husband’s plan,” despite the claims made by some that the Labour leader “would benefit from her support” because she would “tell people about the real Keir,” according to the Daily Mail.
But what about Victoria Starmer do we know?
“Choose a simple life.”
According to The Times, Victoria Starmer was “born and raised” in the North London constituency of Holborn and St. Pancras, where her husband currently serves. She proceeded to the elite Channing School in Highgate after attending Gospel Oak Primary School. “Following in the footsteps of Neil Kinnock 30 years before,” she subsequently attended Cardiff University and assumed the position of president of the students’ union. But she said she “never wanted to go into politics”.
After earning her law degree in 2001, she left the profession to work for the NHS in occupational health. Yet according to Tatler, she was contacted “to interrogate about her work” by Keir Starmer, a top barrister, whom she had met in her previous employment. They had a “robust” beginning to their romance. After being married in 2007, they currently reside in a “£1.75 million townhouse in Kentish Town” with their two kids.
Being Jewish, Victoria attends the St. John’s Wood Liberal Jewish Synagogue. Despite Keir’s atheism, the family nevertheless tries to “uphold the Shabbat tradition of Friday-night dinners with family and friends as often as they can”.
She was “bestowed” with the title of Lady when Keir was knighted, but she “would prefer a low-key life” and “doesn’t like to use her title” According to The Independent, the pair has “given some thought to how their lives will work” should they move into Downing Street, and it appears that they will be “at the ‘no publicity’ end of the spectrum of recent prime ministers”.
a position involving the public?
Although a private family life is something that many prime ministers have initially aspired to, “the relationship with the media never works out quite as planned”. The Starmers have a “no names, no photos” policy and are well renowned for being extremely “protective” of their kids’ identities. The report also stated that Victoria will “have to have a public-facing role,” even if it is “just holding Keir’s hand at big events.”
According to Catherine Bennett in The Guardian, Victoria “appears to live a happy and productive life” and is trying to keep most of it despite her husband’s possible rank. Nevertheless, she is already facing criticism. A politician’s wife is frequently criticized for “getting above herself,” but it appears that the “rightwing press” is inciting Victoria to do the same.
According to The Times, she is probably not going to get involved in “day-to-day issues” even if Keir does end up becoming prime minister. Her primary function is to “soothe over” the “damaged fragile egos” and the “fractured relationships that can happen in politics,” even if she is the “one he rings before making a final big decision.”
The Labour leader’s “calming role may be important to all of us over the coming years” since he is known to trust “almost no one in politics and the media” and because his “impatience at politics” is already evident.
