How Much Is Keir Starmer Paid

Alright, let’s talk about money. Specifically, his money. Keir Starmer’s money. You’ve seen the memes, the headlines, the grumbling. How much does the bloke actually take home? Is he rolling in it, or just getting by on beans on toast? Grab your mug, I’ll spill the tea.

The Basic Salary: The Big Number

Here’s the headline: The Prime Minister gets paid £166,786 a year. That’s the official figure, straight from the parliamentary payroll. Not bad for a day job, right?

But hold on—that’s not all. He also gets the standard MP’s salary, which is around £91,346. Yes, you read that correctly. The PM salary is on top of the MP salary. So he’s actually earning those two sums combined for one role.

Wait, I’m confusing myself. Let me clarify: The £166,786 includes the MP’s salary. So his total pay packet is £166,786. Still a hefty chunk of change, but not quite double-dipping. Sorry, conspiracy theorists.

But What About the Freebies?

Now, salary is just the start. There’s the perks. He gets a grace-and-favour flat at 10 Downing Street. That’s essentially rent-free in a prime London postcode. No mouldy landlord, no surprise hikes. Just keys to the kingdom.

He also gets a country pad: Chequers. Fancy a weekend in the Chilterns with a pool table and a 16th-century vibe? Go on, then. Oh, and his wife Lady Victoria gets to live there too. No extra charge.

Then there’s the car. Armoured Jaguar? Check. Chauffeur? Check. No more fumbling for your Oyster card or arguing about train delays. You’d miss the chaos, though, wouldn’t you?

The Expenses Game

Let’s not forget the expenses. As an MP, he can claim for things like travel, accommodation, and office costs. But as PM, the rules are a bit stricter. No claiming for a new kettle if you live in Downing Street—that’s government property.

Still, there’s the “Ministerial Code”. It means he’s watched like a hawk. Every receipt, every train ticket, every lunch meeting with a donor. You can look it all up online if you’re bored on a Sunday. It’s surprisingly dull reading, I promise.

Remember the free glasses scandal? The ones he accepted from a billionaire? That was a lot of noise over a few frames. But in the UK, we love a good fuss about optics. Literally, in this case.

What He Could Be Earning

Here’s the real kicker: Keir Starmer was a barrister before politics. A very senior one. The Director of Public Prosecutions, no less. In that role, he was pulling in around £240,000 a year. Easily.

Then he became an MP and took a massive pay cut. How noble, right? But also a bit mad. Imagine telling your bank manager, “I’m going to earn £75,000 less, but I’ll get to argue with Nigel Farage on TV.” Some might call it a sacrifice. Others, a career choice.

Lawyers like him can earn £1,000 an hour in private practice. So yes, every hour he spends in Prime Minister’s Questions, he’s losing a fortune. Does that make you feel better about the tax? A little? No? Moving on.

The Pensions and the Future

Here’s the boring bit: pensions. As an MP, he’s in a defined benefit scheme. That means a nice, steady income when he retires. It’s not gold-plated, but it’s not a grocery store’s pension plan either. He’ll be fine.

When he stops being PM, he gets a severance payment. It’s equal to one-quarter of his ministerial salary. That’s about £40,000. A nice little goodbye gift. Enough for a holiday, but not a yacht.

But here’s the secret: the real money comes after. Former PMs write books. They give $100,000 speeches in Singapore. They sit on boards. Ask Tony Blair. He’s worth something like £60 million now. Starmer isn’t there yet, but give him a decade.

So, Is He Rich?

Compared to you and me? Yes. £166,000 a year is top 5% of earners in the UK. He’s not eating beans on toast, unless it’s from a Michelin-starred chef. But compared to other world leaders? He’s a pauper.

Joe Biden earns about $400,000. Justin Trudeau gets around $379,000. Even Jacinda Ardern, on a bad day, was making £200,000. Starmer is cheap by global standards. A bargain, really.

So next time you hear “Starmer’s salary,” just remember: He gave up a lot to argue with you about Brexit. And he still gets a free house. Lucky sod.