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Starmer quits MP seat
Former British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer announced he is to stand down as an MP for Holborn and St Pancras, triggering a by-election in the London seat he has represented since 2015.
“trigger a by-election in the London seat of Holborn and St Pancras”
Starmer said in the Camden New Journal that it was the “right time” to leave the House of Commons and “pass the baton to a successor,” after he left Downing Street in July and reflected over the summer.
The BBC said the move will shift Starmer’s focus to international affairs, including defence, security, trade and technology, and to continuing his work on combating violence against women and girls.
The BBC also reported that Starmer had previously said he would stay on as an MP until the next UK general election, which is not due until 2029, before hours later he changed course.
In a statement on social media reported by Le Monde, Starmer said it was “now time to step aside and focus on other issues: international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world.”
By-election politics
The resignation sets up a by-election in Holborn and St Pancras, long described as a Labour stronghold, where the BBC said Labour’s main challenger is likely to be the Greens.
The BBC reported that the Greens came second by vote totals at this year’s local elections in wards that make up the constituency, with 29.8% of the vote to Labour’s 39.5%.
The Guardian said the Green party leader Zack Polanski is understood to be considering a run for the central London seat, and quoted a Green party spokesperson saying: “Zack has always made it clear he would like to be a London MP.”
The Guardian also framed the decision as a political reversal, quoting Conservative party chair Kevin Hollinrake saying it was “fitting that his final act as a member of parliament is yet another U-turn having pledged to stay on.”
What comes next
The BBC said a date will not be set for the by-election until Starmer formally resigns his Commons seat, after he announced his resignation hours before his successor Andy Burnham made his debut in the House of Commons.
“A date will not be set for the by-election until Sir Keir formally resigns his Commons seat”
Burnham, in the BBC’s account, paid tribute to Starmer’s “lifetime of public service,” and highlighted his work with Ukraine and the Hillsborough Law drawn up under his government to improve accountability of public officials.
In the Camden New Journal, Starmer told local Labour supporters he wanted to focus on international affairs and said he would continue “work on combating violence against women and girls; that is an issue that matters to me hugely.”
GB News reported that Starmer insisted he would serve a full-term as MP until the next general election, but then made the “final U-turn” shortly before Burnham’s first Commons showdown.
Le Soir, citing Reuters, reported Starmer’s explanation that “During the summer, I had time to reflect (…) and I have decided that the time has come to leave my Holborn and St Pancras constituency (central London constituency, ed.) and to pass the baton to a successor.”