Ministerial role

Prime Minister

Responsibilities

The Prime Minister is the leader of His Majesty’s Government and is ultimately responsible for the policy and decisions of the government. 

As leader of the UK government the Prime Minister also: 

  • oversees the operation of the Civil Service and government agencies 
  • chooses members of the government 
  • is the principal government figure in the House of Commons 

Current role holder

The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP

Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister on 5 July 2024.  

Education

Keir attended Reigate Grammar School, before studying Law at the University of Leeds. He went on to do postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford, receiving a Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) degree.

Political Career

Keir was elected a Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras in May 2015. He was elected leader of the Labour Party in April 2020.

Career before politics

Keir qualified as a barrister in 1987 working in private practice before working as a legal advisor to the Northern Ireland Policing Board.

He was appointed Queen’s Counsel (QC) in 2002.

In 2008, Keir was appointed Director of Public Prosecutions, leading the Crown Prosecution Service until 2013.

He received a knighthood in 2014 for services to criminal justice.

Personal Life

Keir is married and has two children.

More about this person

Previous holders of this role

Find out more about previous holders of this role in our past Prime Ministers section.