• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics

Debunking the myth that Keir Starmer is ‘white privilege’

Accusations that a vote for Starmer is a vote against meritocracy couldn't be further from the truth.

Jack Peat by Jack Peat
2020-02-24 20:56
in Politics
Sir Keir Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer. Photo: PA.

FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

Allegations that a vote for Keir Starmer is a vote against meritocracy look to have popped up on social media as we enter the business end of the Labour leadership election. 

In a few months from now there is a likelihood that “all three of Britain’s major parties will be led by white men educated at fee-paying schools, with an Old Etonian facing two guys with knighthoods”, one user postulated. 

But the reality couldn’t be further from the truth. 

Humble beginnings 

Starmer, who is named after Labour’s first leader Keir Hardie,  was brought up by a toolmaker dad and mother who worked as a nurse as a child. 

He passed the 11-plus examination and gained entry to Reigate Grammar School, which was a voluntary aided state school at the time and only became a fee-paying school (such are the accusations) in 1976. 

I know it’s a bitter pill to swallow, but @Keir_Starmer is more working class and from less privilege than @jeremycorbyn. https://t.co/AN0otCAbmU

— Dan Cousins (@cousinsdan) February 24, 2020

From there he went on to study law at the University of Leeds, graduating with a first class degree, which allowed him to undertake postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford, where he graduated as a Bachelor of Civil Law. 

Human rights 

But it was arguably his work as a lawyer that separates him from ‘white privilege’ politicians the most. 

RelatedPosts

Tory MP arrested on suspicion of rape

Man spotted selling eggs outside Margaret Thatcher statue

Jamie Oliver threatens Johnson with ‘Eton Mess’ protest over anti-obesity U-turn

Gove was ‘advised’ to do funny accents during TV interviews

Starmer has worked to eradicate the death penalty in several nations and has a distinguished career elsewhere.

In 2007 he was named the QC of the Year in the field of human rights and public law, and he was appointed the Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2014 New Year Honours list for his outstanding contribution to pro bono work in challenging the death penalty. 

On picking up the aforementioned award, LSE Professor Conor Gearty, who read the oration at the ceremony, said: “Throughout his career, Keir Starmer has been a leader amongst academics and practitioners in human rights law.

“He has transformed the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and made an outstanding contribution to criminal justice policy in the UK, bringing a new culture of openness and public accountability to prosecutorial discretion”. 

Reducing his accomplishments to phony tales of a privileged upbringing goes against the openness and accountability that this leadership election deserves.

Related: Who could we see in Keir Starmer’s shadow cabinet?

Please login to join discussion

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending
Abdollah

‘Rescue us’: Afghan teacher begs UK to help him escape Taliban

CHOMSKY: “If Corbyn had been elected, Britain would be pursuing a much more sane course”

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

More from TLE

The TTIP threat to locally-sourced food

“No such thing as a safe level of drinking” means everyone is getting smashed

Watch: Khan compares PM to ‘Comical Ali’ after claims UK have taken more refugees than any other country in Europe

Old Fashioned Lamb Rib Stew

Male actors still outnumber women by two to one in the biggest grossing movies

Full list of MPs who rejected global minimum corporate tax on big multinationals

‘Poorly designed’ Universal Credit algorithm forcing people into hunger and debt

Government’s schools U-turn in 10 tweets

‘Sorrow, remorse, and regret:’ Ardern apologises to Pacific Island community for historic raids

Killer convicted of stabbing man to death was serving suspended sentence

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.