In October 2013, the Treasury laid before Parliament a short statutory instrument, in relation to Sir Keir Starmer, that has since gained unexpected political attention.
Officially known as The Pensions Increase (Pension Scheme for Keir Starmer QC) Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/2588), the measure came into force on the 31st October 2013.
Despite its modest length of just three operative paragraphs, the Regulations addressed a specific technical issue arising from Keir Starmer KC’s departure as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Made – – – – 8th October 2013
Laid before Parliament 9th October 2013
Coming into force – – 31st October 2013The Treasury, in exercise of the power conferred by section 5(2) of the Pensions (Increase) Act
1971(a) and now vested in them(b) hereby make the following Regulations:Citation and commencement
The Pensions Increase (Pension Scheme for Keir Starmer QC) Regulations 2013
- These Regulations may be cited as the Pensions Increase (Pension Scheme for Keir Starmer QC) Regulations 2013, and come into force on 31st October 2013.
Interpretation- (1) In these Regulations, “the 1971 Act” means the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971.
(2) For the purposes of these Regulations the time when a pension “begins” is that stated in
section 8(2) of the 1971 Act(c).
Pensions to which the 1971 Act shall apply- The 1971 Act shall have effect in relation to any pension payable under the Pension Scheme
for Keir Starmer QC (being a scheme made under section 1 of the Superannuation Act 1972(d)),
as if it were a pension specified in Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the 1971 Act.
Background
Sir Keir Starmer, who is currently the UK Prime Minister, served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2008 until 2013, leading the Crown Prosecution Service through a period of major reform.
As with other senior public appointments, his remuneration included a pension arranged under section 1 of the Superannuation Act 1972.
This was a bespoke pension scheme created specifically for the role of DPP, separate from the standard civil service pension arrangements. When Keir Starmer left office, a question arose regarding how his pension would be increased for inflation once it came into payment.
Purpose of The Pensions Increase (Pension Scheme for Keir Starmer QC) Regulations 2013
The 2013 Regulations were made under section 5(2) of the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971. They declared that the 1971 Act “shall have effect” in relation to any pension payable under Keir Starmer’s scheme “as if it were a pension specified in Part 1 of Schedule 2” to that Act.
In simple terms, this ensured that Kier Starmer’s DPP pension would receive the same annual up-rating for inflation as most other public-service pensions. Increases would therefore be linked to the Retail Prices Index (or its successor measures), thereby protecting the pension’s real value over time.
Key Provisions and Scrutiny
Signed by Treasury ministers Desmond Swayne and Stephen Crabb on the 8th October 2013, the instrument was laid before Parliament the next day.
An accompanying explanatory note emphasised its narrow scope, stating that it had “no impact upon the private or voluntary sectors”. A parliamentary joint committee scrutinising statutory instruments noted a minor drafting point concerning the definition of when a pension “begins”. However, the committee accepted the Treasury’s clarification and viewed the Regulations as largely technical in nature.
The underlying pension scheme was tax-unregistered, a common feature for certain high-level public posts at the time. The 2013 Regulations did not create or change this tax status; they simply applied standard indexation rules.
Later Controversy
For nearly a decade, the Regulations attracted little public interest. They resurfaced in March 2023 during debates over the abolition of the lifetime allowance. Some critics portrayed the measure as a “special law” granting Kier Starmer, by then Leader of the Opposition, a personal tax advantage.
Supporters argued that the arrangement was standard practice for the DPP post and that the Regulations merely aligned indexation with other comparable public-sector schemes. Keir Starmer has described the pension as the normal entitlement for the office he held.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of hypocrisy by Conservatives over a tax exempt pension deal he has from a previous job.
Sir Keir criticised measures in the Budget which scrapped the £1m cap on lifetime pensions savings.
The Telegraph reported that Sir Keir got a special “tax unregistered” pension scheme when he stood down as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in 2013.
Labour says it was standard practice for retiring DPPs to get such a deal.
But senior Conservative MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith told The Telegraph it made a “mockery” of Labour’s position on the lifetime pension allowance, and was as “close to hypocrisy as it is possible to get”.
Sir Keir Starmer criticised over tax free pension scheme
Image of The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP – xAI – Grok
Check out our related articles on Statutory Instruments, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Rule of Law, Crown Prosecution Service, Open Justice, What is Law, Is the Law Black and White ?, Branches of Law, Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination at the Bar, The Secret Barrister, Barristers, Direct Access Barrister, Barristers Behaving Badly, Inns of Court, Council of the Inns of Court, Bar Standards Board, Bar Tribunal and Adjudication Services, Bar Council, Innocent until Proven Guilty and the highly questionable Sussex Family Justice Board.
The Ministry of Injustice is not the Ministry of Justice nor is it affiliated in any way with the justice system, legal profession, police or any other law enforcement agencies.
Latest Articles ↓
- What are Judges Lodgings ?
The provision of judges’ lodgings is a longstanding feature of… Read more: What are Judges Lodgings ? - What is Two Tier Policing ?
The BBC describes so-called “two-tier policing” as where right-wing protests… Read more: What is Two Tier Policing ? - Lawful Use of Handcuffs by the Police
Handcuffs are a standard restraint tool used by police officers… Read more: Lawful Use of Handcuffs by the Police - His Honour Judge Nicholas Rowland
Judge Nicholas Edward Rowland, known as His Honour Judge Nicholas… Read more: His Honour Judge Nicholas Rowland - Police Barred and Advisory Lists
The police barred and advisory lists, which are managed by… Read more: Police Barred and Advisory Lists - President of the Family Division
The President of the Family Division is a highly esteemed… Read more: President of the Family Division - Is Crimestoppers Anonymous ?
Crimestoppers is widely promoted as the United Kingdom’s leading provider… Read more: Is Crimestoppers Anonymous ? - What is a Court Legal Adviser ?
In magistrates’ courts across England and Wales, lay justices (magistrates… Read more: What is a Court Legal Adviser ? - What is a Skeleton Argument ?
A skeleton argument is a concise written document prepared by… Read more: What is a Skeleton Argument ? - Can you Buy a Judge ?
His Honour Judge Martin John Cook was for sale, in… Read more: Can you Buy a Judge ? - Norwich Pharmacal Orders and Dodgy Fire Sticks
Norwich Pharmacal orders (NPOs) are a form of court-ordered disclosure… Read more: Norwich Pharmacal Orders and Dodgy Fire Sticks - What is a Statutory Instrument ?
A statutory instrument is the most common form of secondary… Read more: What is a Statutory Instrument ?
Most Popular ↓
You should always seek formal legal advice from a qualified and reputable lawyer (solicitor or barrister).
There are a number of links to Free and Paid For Legal Resources and Legal Organisations on the Free Legal Advice , Legal Aid and Pro Bono pages.
[post_title] was last updated on the 9th June 2026
