UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer made a private four-hour visit to Budzisław Stary, Wielkopolsce, on Feb 21, tracing his wife’s family roots.
Unannounced Visit Details
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited the village of Budzisław Stary in Kolskie County, Wielkopolskie Voivodeship, on Saturday, February 21. He was accompanied by his wife, Victoria.
Asp. Sztab. Krzysztof Jóźwiak from the Kolskie County Police confirmed to TVN24 that the visit was private and lasted four hours. Police protection and officers from the State Protection Service secured the prime minister’s convoy and his stopping points.
Purpose of the Visit
According to e-kolo.pl, the visit was related to private family research, specifically seeking information about Victoria Starmer’s ancestors and their connections to the region.
Victoria Starmer’s Family Background
Victoria Starmer was born in London in 1973 or 1974. Her father, Bernard, an economics lecturer and chartered accountant, was born in 1929 into a Polish-Jewish family that emigrated to the UK before World War II. It is this paternal line that connects the family to the Wielkopolska region.
Her mother, Barbara (who died in 2020), was a family doctor working in the National Health Service (NHS). She converted to Judaism after marrying.