Former British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced that he will stand down as the Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras, ending an 11-year parliamentary career and triggering a by-election in the London constituency.
Starmer made the announcement on Tuesday after weeks of speculation over whether he would remain in the House of Commons following his departure as prime minister.
He told the Camden New Journal that he had reflected on his future over the summer and concluded that it was time to leave Parliament.
In his statement, Starmer said it had been a “huge honour and privilege” to represent Holborn and St Pancras and that he was now ready to “pass the baton to a successor.”
He said his next focus would be international affairs, particularly areas in which he had remained closely involved during his time in government.
“I will now focus on other things and that will be international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world,” Starmer said.
He also said he intended to continue campaigning against violence against women and girls, an issue he said had been important to him even before entering Parliament.
Starmer’s decision comes just weeks after he resigned as prime minister on July 20, bringing an end to his tenure at Downing Street.
In his final speech as prime minister, he said he was passing the baton to Andy Burnham, who succeeded him as Labour leader and prime minister.
His resignation from Parliament now creates an immediate electoral test for Burnham’s government. The resulting by-election in Holborn and St Pancras will be closely watched because Labour’s traditionally safe seat has seen growing competition from other parties.
The Green Party leader Zack Polanski is among those being discussed as a potential candidate. The Greens have made gains in parts of London and Polanski has previously indicated his desire to become a London MP.
Starmer won Holborn and St Pancras at the 2024 general election with a majority of more than 11,000 votes, although Labour’s share of the vote fell compared with previous contests.
His departure also marks a significant break from his earlier position. Shortly after leaving Downing Street, Starmer had said he intended to remain an MP until the next general election, which must be held by 2029.
The Conservative Party has criticised the reversal, with party chairman Kevin Hollinrake describing it as another U-turn and arguing that taxpayers would face the cost of a by-election.
Starmer, however, framed his decision as a deliberate transition rather than an abandonment of public service.
He said he would continue supporting the Labour government and give his backing to whoever succeeds him as Labour’s candidate in the constituency.
His exit leaves Rishi Sunak as the only former British prime minister currently remaining in the House of Commons, while Starmer turns his attention to international affairs after a dramatic end to his time at the centre of British politics.
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