Who is Lady Victoria Starmer? The wife of Sir Keir is a ‘reluctant political spouse’ and NHS occupational health worker

• Sir Keir’s wife Lady Starmer has been dubbed a ‘reluctant political spouse’
• READ MORE: Protester screaming ‘democracy is in crisis’ throws glitter over Keir Starmer after storming stage during his Labour conference speech in major security breach – as new ‘Just Stop Oil splinter group’ claims responsibility

Lady Victoria Starmer has been dubbed a ‘reluctant political spouse’ – but she always seems to support her husband Sir Keir Starmer when it comes to the big occasions. 

The glamorous mother-of-two and NHS occupational health worker was snapped with her spouse of 16 years at the annual Labour conference in Liverpool today.

Looking characteristically stylish, she sported the ‘Dada’ dress from London based, Canadian-British fashion designer, Edeline Lee, a brand which has previously been highlighted for its sustainable credentials.

She looked vibrant in the red midi length dress, with a frill hem detail, as she supported her husband – who had glitter thrown at him while making a speech, as a protestor stormed the stage.

Lady Victoria was snapped with her arms around her husband as they took to the stage at the event, during which her husband praised her ‘beautiful dress’.

The couple, who wed in 2007, met when they were both working as lawyers in the noughties (pictured:  Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria Starmer on the third day of the annual Labour Party conference in Liverpool)

They were married in 2007 – 13 years before Sir Keir became Labour leader. They met sometime in the early 2000s, when both were working as lawyers

Lady Victoria Starmer (pictured watching her husband give a speech during today’s conference) has been described as a ‘reluctant political spouse’

Lady Victoria – who met Labour leader Sir Keir as lawyers in the noughties – ‘is quite sassy in that she’s quite unbothered by what [her husband’s] doing,’ a party insider has previously told The Telegraph. 

‘If he ever gets into Downing Street, she’s going to be very much leading her own life,’ they added. 

But despite the couple, who share son Toby and a daughter together, wanting to keep their family life private, they aren’t afraid to pack on the PDA at public outings – with Lady Victoria and her husband often seen sharing a kiss or a peck on the cheek.

They were married in 2007 – 13 years before Sir Keir became Labour leader. They met sometime in the early 2000s, when both were working as lawyers.

Victoria drafted documents for a case her future husband was working on during his time as a barrister at Doughty Street chambers, according to the Evening Standard.

Their first date was at a Camden pub, where they enjoyed inexpensive pizzas – but they now live in a £1.75 million Camden townhouse in Sir Keir’s Holborn and St Pancras constituency.

Speaking on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories in 2020, Sir Keir revealed how he met Victoria, explaining: ‘I was doing a case in court and it all depended on whether the documents were accurate. 

‘I [asked the team] who actually drew up these documents, they said a woman called Victoria, so I said let’s get her on the line.’ 

PDA: The couple are snapped sharing a kiss during the Labour Party annual conference in Liverpool today

Lady Victoria (pictured with her husband Sir Keir) looked characteristically stylish today, as she donned a red dress for the conference

SUPPORTIVE: Victoria was snapped applauding while looking at her husband, before his keynote address today

When he spoke to Victoria, who was then working as a ward sister in the NHS, he grilled her on the documents. 

Shortly before hanging up, he said he heard just one comment from her. 

He explained: ‘She said, “Who the bleep does he think he is?”, then put the phone down on me. And quite right too.’ 

Lady Victoria grew up in Gospel Oak, north London, where her mother was a doctor, before forging out a career as a solicitor.

She served as a governor at her children’s school and now works in occupational health for the NHS.

Unlike her husband, Lady Victoria appears to prefer to stay out of the spotlight.

Her first public appearance was at Labour’s 2021 conference in Brighton, where she ‘wowed crowds’, according to The Telegraph.

Yet one Labour insider told the publication: ‘She’s not going to be in the spotlight like Cherie Blair, but more of a background Sarah Brown type figure. I’ve never known her to be particularly political – she’s always had her own interests.’

The couple’s son Toby was born in 2008; the name of their daughter has never been made public. The children are being taught their mother’s faith, which is Jewish.

Despite the couple, who share son Toby and a daughter together, wanting to keep their family life private, they aren’t afraid to pack on the PDA at public outings – with Lady Victoria and her husband often seen sharing a kiss or a peck on the cheek

Speaking on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories in 2020, Sir Keir revealed how he met Victoria (pictured on Saturday), explaining: ‘I was doing a case in court and it all depended on whether the documents were accurate’

Lady Victoria (pictured in 2021) grew up in Gospel Oak, north London, where her mother was a doctor, before forging out a career as a solicitor

Her first public appearance was at Labour’s 2021 conference in Brighton, where she ‘wowed crowds’, according to The Telegraph

In an interview on Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs show, Keir spoke about his wife Victoria’s Jewish family.

He said: ‘It is perfectly true that my wife’s father is Jewish – they came from Poland – and my wife’s mother converted when they got married. There is a long tradition of family and faith there.

‘We observe some of the practices, for example Friday night prayers, occasionally with my wife’s father – her mum sadly passed away earlier this year.’

He then added: ‘My wife in particular wants our children to know the faith of her family.’

Meanwhile speaking at Limmud Jewish learning festival, he said the family spent time together every Friday, saying: ‘Just carving out that tradition, that bit of faith on Friday is incredibly important, because we get together, and we do Zoom prayers now.’

The family belong to London’s Liberal Jewish Synagogue, which is situated in the St. John’s Wood neighbourhood.

Yet one Labour insider told the publication: ‘She’s not going to be in the spotlight like Cherie Blair, but more of a background Sarah Brown type figure. I’ve never known her to be particularly political – she’s always had her own interests.’ Victoria pictured in 2017

The couple took part in Clap for Carers as well as a candlelit vigil for Sarah Everard in March 2021 (pictured) 

Victoria’s mother Barbara, who converted to Judaism, died two weeks after suffering an accident in February 2020.

The mother of the Labour leadership hopeful’s wife had been in critical condition following the incident. It came as Keir was campaigning to lead the Labour Party.

He cancelled his appearance at a hustings in Nottingham to be with his family, later saying: ‘It’s been a terrible year for my wife and her family.’

And when Keir later spoke about the accident on Piers Morgan’s series, the camera panned to an emotional Victoria in the audience.

Keir said: ‘The accident came out of the blue.’I’ve seen intensive care many times but I’d never seen anything as awful as this.

‘Vic [his wife Victoria] obviously got a message through to me, I was in the Chambers of Parliament and I went straight to the hospital.

‘We were in the leadership election. It was very difficult for Vic and I took the decision to cancel the leadership campaigning and withdrew completely to be with her.

‘That was the right thing to do, it didn’t take me any time to make up my mind that was what I was going to do. Every day we went to the hospital. Tragically, Vic’s mum didn’t make it.

‘I had to do something I’d never done before which was to comfort someone who was going through grief.

‘My dad had died, my mum had died. I’d been through my version of that grief. But to see your wife go through it… it’s deep.’

Victoria was also snapped alongside the Arsenal supporter at the Euro 2020 final in Wembley

The former solicitor has made few public appearances since Keir came to be Labour party leader, joining him at the service for the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain in September 2020

Meanwhile Victoria’s father, who was born Jewish and has roots in Poland, lives on the same street as Starmer and his family.

Throughout lockdown, Victoria was spotted joining Keir on the doorstep of their North London home to Clap for Carers.

Meanwhile she also stood alongside her husband as they took part in a candlelit vigil for Reclaim These Streets after Sarah Everard’s death in March.

The former solicitor has made few public appearances since Keir came to be Labour party leader, joining him at the service for the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain in September 2020.

She was also snapped alongside the Arsenal supporter at the Euro 2020 final in Wembley in 2021. 

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