How Sir Keir Starmer was 'formed' in Surrey
Sir Keir Starmer has said his early years in Surrey are significant in his life
- Published
As Keir Starmer settles into 10 Downing Street, we took a look at how the new prime minister's home county got him where he is today
“It was the forming of me," he said of Surrey in April, during the local election campaign.
The prime minister grew up in Hurst Green, close to Oxted, with his late parents and four siblings in what he has described was a “working class background”.
We visited the rural village to find out how residents felt about a local boy getting the the top job.
Keir Starmer grew up in Hurst Green, a village close to Oxted
Close to the Kent border, the leafy village has grown over the years, gradually merging with those around it.
Those in the Holland Sports and Social Club on the day after the general election described Hurst Green as a quaint, quiet village.
Many have stayed in the area for a long time and live near their families.
Carol Coomber, who works behind the social club bar, said: "I live next door to my daughter. I’m related to quite a few people around Hurst Green."
Carol Coomber works behind the bar in the social club
She said there were problems with anti-social behaviour in the club’s park setting.
Others highlighted a lack of affordable housing and potholes as issues in the area.
Few believe a new government will change much.
Stuart Noakes, 72, who has lived in Hurst Green for 40 years, said: "It’s a lovely place when you get used to it."
Stuart Noakes has lived in Hurst Green for 40 years and said it is a "lovely place"
He said he voted for Nigel Farage’s Reform UK candidate, making him one of 8,380 in the East Surrey constituency to do so.
He said he hoped it would “shake up” the main parties.
One man, who did not want to be named, doubted Hurst Green’s influence on Sir Keir, and said he believed he “could have come from anywhere”.
“Some people progress from where they are and other people stay where they are and do nothing,” he added.
From school pitches to Downing Street
After passing the 11-plus exam, Sir Keir joined Reigate Grammar School, which became a private school two years later.
His fees were paid by the council until he was 16.
Starmer's former headmaster wrote in a school report that he was a “very promising boy”.
Current headmaster Shaun Fenton said the school wished “every success for him and for the country”.
Mr Fenton said: “Sir Keir has travelled from the football pitches of Reigate Grammar School to the steps of number 10 Downing Street.
“We are delighted our former student is prime minister.”
Former headmaster Howard Ballance called Keir Starmer "very promising"
One Hurst Green resident, who did not want to be named, has lived for more than 50 years on the street where Sir Keir grew up.
She knew the family “as neighbours” and described the four siblings as “a lovely gang”.
On the Labour leader's future as prime minister, she said: “I hope he might be quite memorable.
“I hope it turns out well for him, I think he deserves it.”
While he was growing up in the 1970s, Surrey was, as it has been for hundreds of years, dominated by Conservative MPs.
Thursday's general election saw the Liberal Democrats take six of the county's 12 seats.
Despite the Conservatives' long-running success here, Starmer is the first prime minister from the modern county of Surrey.
Labour prime minister Clement Attlee was from Putney when it was still considered part of Surrey.
Conservative John Major was born at St Helier Hospital in Carshalton, before the area became part of Greater London in the 1960s.
Meanwhile Jeremy Hunt, who also grew up in Surrey, got down to the final two of the Conservative leadership contest, before losing to Boris Johnson in 2019.
But it is the Labour man from Hurst Green who now has the keys to Number 10.
- Published5 July
- Published5 July
