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 an 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 got engaged in 2004 and married on 6 May 2007 on the Fennes Estate in 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 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

After 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. Afterwards, she 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.