Why is Keir Starmer a Sir? How the next Prime Minister got his title

The leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer, is poised become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after officially winning the 2024 General Election.

Labour has won in a landslide result, with the Conservative Party suffering their worst defeat ever.

With many top Tories losing their jobs – including the likes of Grant Schapps and Penny Mordaunt – it is Sir Keir who will be replacing them when he forms a new government.

In his victory speech, which he gave at around 5am the morning after the election, on Friday 5 July, Keir Starmer said: ‘Today we start the next chapter, begin the work of change, the mission of national renewal and start to rebuild our country.’

Follow the latest news on the 2024 General Election on Metro.co.uk’s live blog

Though rarely used, the Labour Party leader’s official title is Sir Keir Starmer.

So, how did he earn the title?

Why is Keir Starmer a Sir?

Keir Starmer, 61, became a Sir when he was knighted in 2014.

He was awarded the title for ‘services to law and criminal justice’, for his work he undertook as head of the Crown Prosecution Service and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

At the time of receiving his knighthood, Sir Keir had recently stepped down from the role, which he held for five years, between 2008 and 2013.

However, he prefers not to use his title, telling the Hampstead & Highgate Express in 2015, ‘I’ve never liked titles’ and adding that he refrained from being called ‘director’ when he was DPP.

While in the post, he dealt with a number of high-profile cases, which included the Stephen Lawrence case, where he brought the prosecution against two men accused of murdering the 18-year-old.

Keir Starmer career history

Keir Starmer started his career in the legal profession, having studied law at Leeds University and going on to gain a postgraduate degree at Oxford.

In 1987, he began working as a barrister specialising in human rights, before becoming head of the Crown Prosecution Service and DPP in 2008.

During his career he has defended trade unions, anti-McDonald’s activists and death row inmates abroad.

He stood down as DPP in 2013 and entered Parliament in 2015, after he won the Holburn and St Pancras seat in London with a majority of more than 17,000.

In the 2024 General Election, Sir Keir won his seat once again, with 18,884 votes.

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