Keir Starmer Stands Down As MP For Holborn And St Pancras, Triggering By-Election

A few weeks after leaving 10 Downing Street, Keir Starmer also abandons his seat as a Member of Parliament. The former prime minister had nevertheless assured in July that he would remain at Westminster until the next elections. His departure triggers a by-election where the Greens hope to shake up the Labour Party. Summary of the article Keir Starmer leaves his MP seat a few weeks after Downing Street, despite his promise to stay at Westminster. His departure could make the by-elections tricky for Labour against the Greens. Keir Starmer is definitively turning the page on Westminster. Just a few weeks after leaving Downing Street in favor of Andy Burnham, the former British prime minister announced on Tuesday that he would also renounce his Holborn and St Pancras parliamentary seat, in central London. "During the summer, I had time to reflect, and I decided that the time had come to leave my duties as MP and pass the baton to a successor," he announced. Starmer, 63, had represented the constituency since 2015. He now says he wants to devote his time to international affairs, particularly to defense, security, trade and technology, as well as to combat violence against women and girls. But his decision does not go unnoticed for another reason: the former Prime Minister had precisely assured this summer that he would remain a member of Parliament. A commitment taken less than two months ago As his departure from Downing Street became clearer, Keir Starmer’s entourage indicated that he planned to complete his parliamentary term. On July 3, when directly asked about the possibility of staying as MP until the next general elections, he had replied: “Yes.”

- Published Former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced he is to stand down as an MP to focus on a role in international affairs. The move will trigger a by-election in the London seat of Holborn and St Pancras, long a Labour stronghold, which he has represented since 2015. Sir Keir, who left Downing Street in July, had previously said he would stay on as an MP until the next UK general election, which is not due until 2029. But in a surprise statement hours before his successor Andy Burnham made his debut in the House of Commons, he said he was resigning to work on issues such as international affairs and violence against women and girls. Paying tribute to his predecessor, Burnham highlighted Sir Keir's work with Ukraine and the Hillsborough Law drawn up under his government to improve the accountability of public officials, which is going through Parliament. "He has given this country an lifetime of public service, particularly for those fighting for justice," he added. "His leadership took our party from one of its worst defeats to its best victories and created a platform to change this country for the better. We will use it well, and we wish his family the very best for the future." Announcing his resignation, Sir Keir told the Camden New Journal, external it had been a "huge honour and privilege" to represent the London constituency for 11 years, ending weeks of speculation about whether he would remain an MP. He added he was ready to "pass the baton to a successor", telling the newspaper it was the "right time" for him to leave Parliament. He said: "I will now focus on other things and that will be international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world. "I will also continue, as I have done for a long time now with others, to work on combating violence against women and girls; that is an issue that matters to me hugely. "It's work I started before I became an MP and it's work I'm keen to continue after I'm an MP. So international affairs on the one hand, and continuing my work on violence against women and girls on the other." Sir Keir became prime minister after winning a landslide majority at the 2024 election, but quit No 10 after pressure from Labour MPs to stand aside. 'Another U-turn' Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch wished Sir Keir the best for the future adding: "I can understand why he would not want to spend time with the Labour MPs who treated him so badly after he won them their seats." Tory Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake accused Sir Keir of making "another U-turn having pledged to stay on", prompting a "costly by-election for taxpayers". A date will not be set for the by-election until Sir Keir formally resigns his Commons seat. Holborn and St Pancras has long been a Labour stronghold, with Sir Keir securing a more than 11,000-vote majority at the last general election in 2024. Labour's main challenger in the seat is likely to be the Greens, who 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%. Reform UK came a distant third by these vote totals, and the Greens' share was higher if they are given the votes in two wards where they stood aside. Candidates for the by-election will not be confirmed until a later stage, but the Greens hinted that leader Zack Polanski was considering a run at the seat. A spokesperson for the party said Polanksi, currently a member of the London Assembly, had "always made it clear he would like to be a London MP". Previous PMs While it is unclear exactly what type of international affairs role Sir Keir may take up, global issues and diplomacy dominated his time as PM. In his departure interview in July, Sir Keir was asked if he had another big political or international job in him, to which he replied: "I don't know is the honest answer to that." By standing down so soon after quitting as PM, Sir Keir has departed from recent precedent for those in Downing Street before him. Rishi Sunak is still the Tory MP for Richmond and Northallerton two years after leaving No 10, and his precedessor Liz Truss stayed on as a backbencher until she lost her seat to Labour at the 2024 election. Theresa May stayed on as MP for five years after leaving Downing Street. However, both Boris Johnson and David Cameron quit the Commons shortly afterwards.

Exclusive: Sir Keir Starmer to step down as MP for Holborn and St Pancras Former PM thanks local Labour supporters and says he is proud of what he delivered in 11 years in the House of Commons Tuesday, 1st September — By Richard Osley and Dan Carrier Sir Keir Starmer has been the MP for Holborn and St Pancras for eleven years The best way to support journalism in north London is to subscribe to NewJournal+ – every sign-up helps keep reporters on the ground and asking questions. Find out more at newjournal.substack.com SIR Keir Starmer – the former UK prime minister and Labour Party leader – is to step down as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras, the New Journal can exclusively reveal. After weeks of speculation about his future plans, he chose his local newspaper to explain why he felt it was the “right time” to leave the House of Commons and concentrate on new work on international affairs. He told the New Journal that, after leaving Downing Street at the end of July, he had reflected on what lay ahead and that he was ready to “pass the baton to a successor”, adding: “It has been a huge honour and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country and to have taken over from Frank Dobson, who was such a great constituency MP and a member of the last Labour 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. “I will also continue, as I have done for a long time now with others, work on combating violence against women and girls; that is an issue that matters to me hugely. It’s work I started before I became an MP and it’s work I’m keen to continue after I’m an MP. So international affairs on the one hand, and continuing my work on violence against women and girls on the other.” He has informed local Labour constituency party staff of his decision to leave parliament after eleven years representing the constituency in the south of the borough. The party will now begin a selection process to find a candidate for a resulting by-election. Only the second time the vacancy has become free in 47 years, there will be no shortage of interest in what has traditionally been viewed as a safe Labour seat. While his critics have not held back in their analysis of his two years as prime minister, Mr Starmer is defensive of how he feels he changed both his party and the country. “I want to thank all of those I was privileged to work with in the constituency on issues that matter hugely: affordable housing, first class education and the work we did on knife crime through the Camden youth support, which was really, really important,” he said. “In terms of some of the things that have changed: we are opening ten breakfast clubs across the constituency – five of them opened in April, five more will be opened when the schools go back this week. I think breakfast clubs make a huge difference for children and parents because everybody knows that a child that hasn’t eaten before they try to start learning is not going to learn as well as other children.” Mr Starmer at an election count in Somers Town and, below, meeting children at Hawley School in Camden Town earlier this year “Free school meals are coming again this week, that’s 4,600 children in the constituency that will now benefit, the minimum wage increase will make a difference to thousands of workers across Camden who are on or near the minimum wage and there’s an increase in the number of GPs. The two child benefit cap being lifted will affect 2,500 children in the constituency who will now begin to be lifted out of poverty. Then there’s the Renters’ Rights Act – 16,500 renters in Holborn and St Pancras – and of course everybody who is at work will benefit under the Employment Rights Act.” Mr Starmer had lived in the borough for many years but had not been involved in local politics while working in the politically sensitive role of Director of Public Prosecutions. When he left that job, however, he emerged as a likely successor to Mr Dobson, who had been the area’s MP for 35 years and was ready to announce his retirement. Mr Starmer became the parliamentary candidate as the runaway winner in a contest against the then council leader Sarah Hayward and campaigning lawyer Raj Chada at a packed selection meeting at St Pancras Church ahead of the 2015 general election. Labour failed to unseat the Tories, however, and Ed Miliband’s resignation led to some calls from within the party for Mr Starmer to immediately put himself forward as a potential leader. He instead supported Andy Burnham but members chose Jeremy Corbyn to take over. He served on Mr Corbyn’s shadow front bench but later became a staunch critic and talked of how he had to change the party once he took over himself. Mr Starmer left Downing Street earlier this summer applauded by party staff and local Labour members who had been invited to both his first day and his farewell – and while there had been obvious pressure from within the party to make way for his successor, ironically Mr Burnham, he said that the local CLP “always had my back”, adding: “They have been resolute in their support for me: firstly in becoming an MP and then becoming the leader of Labour Party and then as Prime Minister. I couldn’t have asked for a better, more supportive constituency Labour party. They have always had my back, and my constituency staff have worked tirelessly on casework and campaigns, and making sure that constituency concerns are picked up and dealt with efficiently. “My years on the front line were basically six and a half years because it was from picking up the Labour Party in 2019 from the worst election result since 1935 and turning it around to a general election landslide victory in 2024, while most people said it wouldn’t be possible to win the election in 2024 – let alone win it with a landslide. No leader has ever pulled such a swing across from such a low base to a landslide in the way that we did.” Mr Starmer catching up on the new during the early days of his time as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras and, below, his last day at Downing Street “I’m proud of what we delivered. I’ve achieved it by being a locally based MP with a fantastically supportive CLP. Without them, it wouldn’t be possible for me to step up and lead the Labour Party and then change the Labour Party to face the country and put it in a position to win the election and be in government.” In terms of what his next steps will be on the international scene, it is understood that more detail is likely to be set out in the coming months, but he added: “I think once you’ve been prime minister, it’s important to answer the question: what are you going to do next? Having decided I’m going to concentrate on international affairs, I think it’s right to step down [as MP].” Mr Starmer said he would follow in the footsteps of Mr Dobson by not publicly endorsing anybody who might be his successor at this stage but would then support whoever is selected, adding: “The Constituency Labour Party has got many, many fantastic people and there will be no shortage of first class candidates.” Interest in the position is likely to come from inside and outside the borough. The timetable for choosing someone will be set out in the coming weeks. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK. CLICK BANNER.

Despite his manifest intention to remain as a deputy, he follows Blair or Cameron by leaving Parliament almost immediately The former British prime minister Keir Starmer has announced this Tuesday his intention to leave domestic politics to focus on the international arena, thus reversing his initial plan to stay in Parliament until the next elections, initially scheduled for 2029. Six weeks after formally leaving power, the first Labour leader to win an outright general election in nearly two decades resigns the seat he had held since 2015, a decision announced to the local Holborn and St Pancras newspaper in central London. His resignation forces a by-election in what has historically been a Labour stronghold, although Green support has recently grown and its leader, Zack Polanski, could run to replace Starmer. The first Labour prime minister in 14 years, following his landslide electoral victory in July 2024, thus follows the precedents of Tony Blair, who resigned from his seat on the same day he left 10 Downing Street in June 2007; and Conservative prime minister David Cameron, who announced his departure from the House of Commons in September 2016, barely two months after leaving the official residence. But in the last half century, most British prime ministers remained in Parliament years after leaving office, and Starmer himself had initially indicated shortly after his departure that his intention was to continue, at least until the next general elections. In his interview with the Camden New Journal, he has described his eleven years in Westminster as “an immense honor and privilege,” but he said that after leaving Downing Street he concluded that it was time to “pass the baton to a successor.” His exit from power, after barely two years, had been hastened by his own party following a sharp decline in popularity, evidenced by polls that recorded historic lows and that relegated Labour to third position. The trend was reaffirmed in the electoral debacle in May elections, in which the party lost thousands of municipal seats in England and was ousted from power in Wales for the first time in its history. Although he has not clarified any organization or post, the international arena is Starmer’s next destination, who before entering politics in 2015 had been a Human Rights lawyer and for five years Attorney General of England and Wales (head of the Crown Prosecution Service), a position that earned him the title of ‘sir’ in 2014 for his services to penal justice. The announcement of his resignation from his seat coincides with the resumption of parliamentary activity after the summer recess. Precisely this Tuesday his successor in the role, Andy Burnham, headlines his debut in Westminster as prime minister with a self-requested appearance to outline the broad lines of the mandate inaugurated in July. From his new path, Starmer has clarified that the areas he will devote his attention to are “defense, security, trade and technology in a world of dizzying change.” His name had sounded as a potential successor to head NATO's General Secretary, once Mark Rutte completes his term, initially in 2028. In addition, the former prime minister has also advanced his intention to “continue the work of fighting violence against women and girls.” “It is a task I began before I became a MP and I want to continue after being a MP,” he explained in his interview with the Camden New Journal. The scope of his legacy remains unwritten. His overwhelming electoral victory in July 2024, in his first year as leader, quickly gave way to disappointment due to a series of controversial measures that dampened the government's popularity, such as the controversial withdrawal of heating aid for pensioners, later partially reversed, the lack of progress in welfare reform, or the perception of chaos at Number 10. Public dissatisfaction highlighted by polls and by his own Labour parliamentary group, which denounced an almost total absence of interaction from Starmer, created an atmosphere of unease that ultimately precipitated Starmer’s departure. The former prime minister announced his resignation as prime minister on June 22, four days after Burnham confirmed his return to Parliament, in a by-election held solely to win him the seat, the missing piece needed to assume Labour leadership and thereby become prime minister. In modern times, regicide had been the preserve of the Conservatives, who have rarely hesitated to remove a leader considered a burden. The Labour Party, by contrast, had never completed a similar maneuver against any prime minister, despite internal unpopularity of leaders such as Blair or Gordon Brown in his final days at Number 10. In contemporary times, only Jeremy Corbyn faced a direct challenge from his ranks in 2016 after the referendum that decided Brexit, but the process left him notably strengthened and he would run as the top of the list in two general elections (in 2017 and 2019).

Keir Starmer resigns from the British Parliament and announces he will devote himself to international affairs The former prime minister will leave the Holborn and St Pancras seat he has held since 2015 to focus on defense, security, trade, and technology. The former British prime minister Keir Starmer announced on Tuesday his resignation as a Labour MP, ending more than a decade in the House of Commons and signaling that he will focus his activities on international affairs. The decision comes about a month and a half after his departure from Downing Street and marks another step in Starmer’s distancing from the front line of UK domestic politics. “During the summer, I’ve had time to reflect and reconsider my future. I have decided that now is the right moment to resign my seat as MP for Holborn and St Pancras and pass the baton to a successor,” said the former head of government. Starmer had represented that central-London constituency since 2015. His resignation will trigger the process to fill the seat, at a time of reorganization for the governing party after the leadership change in government. Defense, security and trade The former prime minister indicated that his new phase will be focused mainly on the international arena, mentioning among his priorities defense, security, trade, and technology. “It is time to step aside and focus on other matters: international issues that include areas such as defense, security, trade, and technology in a world that is constantly changing,” he explained. Starmer also said he will continue working on initiatives aimed at combating violence against women and girls, a matter with which he has been involved for much of his professional and political career. The announcement leaves open the possibility that the former head of government may assume in the future roles in international organizations, academic institutions, foundations, or initiatives related to foreign policy and security, although he has not announced a new post yet. Praises his Downing Street leadership In his farewell, Starmer defended the results of his two years as prime minister and claimed credit for the process that led the Labour Party back to power. The leader recalled that he took Labour leadership in 2020, after the resounding electoral defeat suffered by the party in 2019, and highlighted the victory obtained in the July 2024 general elections. In those elections, Labour secured a large parliamentary majority and ended 14 consecutive years of Conservative governments, started by David Cameron in 2010 and continued subsequently by Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak. Starmer argued that during his administration he managed to “stabilize the economy, rebuild public services, and invest substantial sums in defense and security,” in addition to advancing policies to combat child poverty. He also highlighted what he considers a recovery of the United Kingdom’s international standing and its relations with its major partners. Ukraine, Europe and the Middle East Foreign policy occupied a significant portion of Starmer’s tenure at Downing Street. His government maintained British military and political support for Ukraine against Russia and sought to strengthen London’s coordination with European countries on defense. It also pushed for closer ties with the European Union after years of tensions stemming from Brexit, though without proposing the UK’s return to the bloc. In the Middle East, his government had to navigate the regional consequences of the war in Gaza, tensions between Israel and Iran, and domestic debates in the UK about its policy toward Israelis and Palestinians. Defense likewise took on an increasingly central role on the British agenda amid the war in Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East, and questions about the future of U.S. commitment to European security. During his tenure, Starmer advocated for a sustained increase in military spending and greater European capacity to take on defense responsibilities. That set of issues precisely aligns with the areas in which the former prime minister says he will focus his activities now. A new election in London Starmer’s resignation will open the process to find a new representative for Holborn and St Pancras, a constituency historically favorable to the Labour Party. The former prime minister said he would back whoever is chosen as the Labour candidate and stated that he will continue supporting the current government. His departure marks, however, the end of a political era that began with his arrival in Parliament in 2015, continued with his election as Labour leader five years later, and culminated with the 2024 electoral victory that brought him to Downing Street. Now, outside the government and Parliament, Starmer intends to translate his experience to the international arena, precisely at a time when the United Kingdom faces a backdrop of European rearmament, the war in Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East, technological competition, and the redefinition of global trade relations.

Sir Keir Starmer resigns as the MP for Holborn & St Pancras GB NEWS The ex-Prime Minister insisted he would serve a full-term as the MP for Holborn & St Pancras Sir Keir Starmer has resigned as the MP for Holborn & St Pancras and triggered a by-election headache for Andy Burnham. The ex-Prime Minister, who vowed to remain as an MP until the next general election, made the final U-turn of his political career shortly before Mr Burnham is due to face his first Commons showdown since entering No10. In a 372-word resignation letter, Sir Keir wrote: "Over the summer, I have had time to reflect and consider my future."I have decided that now is the right time to step down as MP for Holborn & St Pancras and hand the baton over to a successor.TRENDINGStoriesVideosYour Say"It's been an honour and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country since taking over from the great Frank Dobson 11 years ago."But it is now time to step aside and focus on other issues: international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world."There had been speculation that the ex-Prime Minister was being lined up for a top job in Brussels.Nato’s secretary-general position, which is currently occupied by ex-Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, could potentially become vacant in 2028.Sir Keir Starmer quit as Prime Minister on July 20|GETTYA series of informal meetings will need to take place before a final decision is taken, with the consent of all 32 member states required.Sir Keir travelled more and further than any other British leader in official history, including almost double the distance that Sir Tony Blair covered in the same period in office.The 63-year-old announced he is standing down as an MP just six weeks after resigning as Prime Minister on July 20.He added: "I want to thank my CLP team who have always stood firmly by me, and given me the support I needed as I stood for Leader of the Labour Party and then as I took my Party from political, moral and financial ruin to an historic landslide election win in 2024 and two years as Prime Minister when we stabilised the economy, rebuilt our public services, invested record amounts in our defence and security, began lifting hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty and transformed Britain's reputation with international partners.Sir Keir Starmer penned his full resignation letter on social media|KEIR STARMER/XLATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Nigel Farage’s Reform storms ahead in mega poll as Labour falls to second in blow to Burnham bounceNigel Farage eats into Tory vote as Reform's surge leaves Andy Burnham bounce on brink, poll showsLabour finally considers backing Bill to ban cousin marriage"I want to thank my constituency staff who, throughout all those 11 years, have worked tirelessly on casework and helped me do my utmost to serve the people of Holborn and St Pancras."I could not have done this job without them. There will now be a process to appoint my successor ahead of a by-election."Whoever is lucky enough to become the Labour candidate here will have my full support and backing and I will continue to give my full support to the Prime Minister and this Labour Government."Sir Keir was first elected as the MP for Holborn & St Pancras in 2015, with his 30,509 vote majority in 2017 eventually being whittled down to 11,572 in 2024.Andy Burnham is preparing to face down MPs in the House of Commons|PADespite Holborn & St Pancras being a safe Labour seat since its inception in 1983, the Green Party is widely considered the main challenger in the seat.Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who sits as a London Assembly Member, could potentially stand in Holborn & St Pancras.Speaking in April, Mr Polanski said: “If there's a by-election in London, I'll almost certainly be running…Holborn and St Pancras, if Keir Starmer is going anywhere… generally around East London, I've lived there for a long time. I have a connection to the place.”A Green Party spokesman added: "Zack has always made it clear he would like to be a London MP. London has been his home for over 20 years."Zack Polanski is yet to contest a Westminster seat since becoming Green leader|GETTYThe 2026 Local Elections saw the Green Party surge from just one to 11 seats in Camden, while Labour dropped from 45 to just 30.The Greens had claimed victory at Labour's expense when Hannah Spencer won the Gorton & Denton by-election in February.However, a recent bounce in the polls following Sir Keir's resignation appears to have helped Labour open up a considerable lead over the Green Party.Sir Keir's resignation means he follows in the footsteps of Sir Tony Blair and David Cameron, who both opted to trigger snap by-elections after quitting as MPs in 2007 and 2016.Rishi Sunak, who Sir Keir defeated at the 2024 General Election, continues to represent Richmond & Northallerton in the House of Commons.Our Standards:The GB News Editorial Charter In a 372-word resignation letter, Sir Keir wrote: "Over the summer, I have had time to reflect and consider my future. "I have decided that now is the right time to step down as MP for Holborn & St Pancras and hand the baton over to a successor. "It's been an honour and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country since taking over from the great Frank Dobson 11 years ago. "But it is now time to step aside and focus on other issues: international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world." There had been speculation that the ex-Prime Minister was being lined up for a top job in Brussels. Nato’s secretary-general position, which is currently occupied by ex-Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, could potentially become vacant in 2028. Sir Keir Starmer quit as Prime Minister on July 20 GETTY A series of informal meetings will need to take place before a final decision is taken, with the consent of all 32 member states required. Sir Keir travelled more and further than any other British leader in official history, including almost double the distance that Sir Tony Blair covered in the same period in office. The 63-year-old announced he is standing down as an MP just six weeks after resigning as Prime Minister on July 20. He added: "I want to thank my CLP team who have always stood firmly by me, and given me the support I needed as I stood for Leader of the Labour Party and then as I took my Party from political, moral and financial ruin to an historic landslide election win in 2024 and two years as Prime Minister when we stabilised the economy, rebuilt our public services, invested record amounts in our defence and security, began lifting hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty and transformed Britain's reputation with international partners. Sir Keir Starmer penned his full resignation letter on social media KEIR STARMER/X "I want to thank my constituency staff who, throughout all those 11 years, have worked tirelessly on casework and helped me do my utmost to serve the people of Holborn and St Pancras. "I could not have done this job without them. There will now be a process to appoint my successor ahead of a by-election. "Whoever is lucky enough to become the Labour candidate here will have my full support and backing and I will continue to give my full support to the Prime Minister and this Labour Government." Sir Keir was first elected as the MP for Holborn & St Pancras in 2015, with his 30,509 vote majority in 2017 eventually being whittled down to 11,572 in 2024. Andy Burnham is preparing to face down MPs in the House of Commons Despite Holborn & St Pancras being a safe Labour seat since its inception in 1983, the Green Party is widely considered the main challenger in the seat. Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who sits as a London Assembly Member, could potentially stand in Holborn & St Pancras. Speaking in April, Mr Polanski said: “If there's a by-election in London, I'll almost certainly be running…Holborn and St Pancras, if Keir Starmer is going anywhere… generally around East London, I've lived there for a long time. I have a connection to the place.” A Green Party spokesman added: "Zack has always made it clear he would like to be a London MP. London has been his home for over 20 years." Zack Polanski is yet to contest a Westminster seat since becoming Green leader The 2026 Local Elections saw the Green Party surge from just one to 11 seats in Camden, while Labour dropped from 45 to just 30. The Greens had claimed victory at Labour's expense when Hannah Spencer won the Gorton & Denton by-election in February. However, a recent bounce in the polls following Sir Keir's resignation appears to have helped Labour open up a considerable lead over the Green Party. Sir Keir's resignation means he follows in the footsteps of Sir Tony Blair and David Cameron, who both opted to trigger snap by-elections after quitting as MPs in 2007 and 2016. Rishi Sunak, who Sir Keir defeated at the 2024 General Election, continues to represent Richmond & Northallerton in the House of Commons. Our Standards:The GB News Editorial Charter

This file photo shows Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer leaving 10 Downing Street in central London on January 14, 2026. (AFP Photo) Britain's former prime minister Keir Starmer, who stepped down as leader this summer after a tumultuous two years in power, announced on Sept. 1 that he would quit parliament to focus on "international affairs". In a statement on social media, Starmer said it was the "right time" to resign as the MP for the Holborn and St Pancras seat in London after 11 years, triggering a by-election. "It is now time to step aside and focus on other issues: international affairs including defense, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world," Starmer said in his statement. His constituency's local newspaper, the Camden New Journal, reported Starmer had informed the Labour party of his decision to leave parliament after 11 years, six of those as leader of the party. Andy Burnham was parachuted into the prime minister role in July to take over from Starmer, who announced his resignation amid piling pressure from fellow Labour MPs. Starmer, a former human rights lawyer, is credited with reviving the center-left Labour party, helping it win a landslide victory in general elections in 2024. But the straitlaced politician was deeply unpopular during his two years in power, and eventually had to step down after multiple missteps, making way for the next leader in Britain's churn of prime ministers.

Photo: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street Sir Keir Starmer has announced he is standing down as MP for Holborn and St Pancras after 11 years, triggering a by-election that will serve as the first electoral test of Andy Burnham's government since Starmer resigned as prime minister earlier in the summer. Starmer told the Camden New Journal it was the "right time" to leave the Commons to focus on international affairs, including defence, security, trade and technology. Labour will almost certainly hold the seat. Starmer secured a majority of more than 11,000 votes at the 2024 general election, and the constituency has returned a Labour MP without interruption since it was created in 1983. No by-election date has been set yet - a date cannot be fixed until Starmer formally applies for the Chiltern Hundreds to vacate his seat - and Labour's candidate selection process is only just beginning. That the result is unlikely to surprise anyone does not mean the campaign will pass without relevance for the insurance market. By-elections in high-profile seats, particularly inner London seats with large private-rented populations, tend to become platforms for candidates to restate national policy positions in local terms. Two are directly relevant to brokers. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 received royal assent in October 2025 and began coming into force in stages from May 1, 2026. It abolishes Section 21 no-fault evictions, moves all tenancies onto periodic rolling contracts, and introduces a new private-rented sector database and ombudsman service. The Act affects roughly 2.3 million private landlords in England, according to the House of Commons Library. Holborn and St Pancras has a substantial private rented sector - it is an inner-London constituency covering parts of Camden, King's Cross and Bloomsbury. A campaign here will inevitably draw out candidate positions on the Act's implementation, and on whether further reforms to landlord liability, licensing or insurance requirements are contemplated. For brokers advising private landlord clients, any signal of accelerated implementation or further regulatory extension is worth monitoring from the campaign period rather than waiting for Westminster announcements. Employment Rights Act provisions and the National Living Wage both moved as live cost pressures when Burnham took office. These are as likely as housing to feature in a central London by-election campaign where hospitality, retail and service sector employment is concentrated. For brokers with employer clients managing group risk, workers' compensation and employers' liability programs, the campaign conversation is worth tracking for any signal of further acceleration in statutory sick pay or flexible working obligations. When Starmer resigned as prime minister in the summer, broker reaction was measured. Russell Sessions of Vizion Insurance Brokers described the mood at the time as "just another Monday" after six prime ministers in a decade, and argued that real market change tends to come from within firms rather than from Westminster policy shifts. That scepticism applies equally here. A by-election Labour is not going to lose in a seat it has held for over 40 years does not move underwriting markets. What is worth tracking is not the result but whether the campaign produces any firmer signal on housing, employment or tax policy - on the Part II provisions of the Employment Rights Act or on how landlord regulation develops through 2027 - than Westminster has volunteered so far.

Support TIME. Preserve the truth. Contribute Reader’s Letter × KOH Real-time news, always at hand I’m installing LE MONDE Keir Starmer resigns from his MP seat. !Keir Starmer Keir Starmer September 1, 2026 13:46 Share on: !Viber September 1, 2026 13:46 * Share on: Sir Keir Starmer has announced that he will resign as MP for the Holborn and St Pancras constituency, a move that will trigger a by-election for this term in London. In a statement to the Camden Neë Journal, he said it had been an “honor and great privilege” to represent this constituency for 11 years, but that he would now focus his attention on “international issues.” Sir Keir stepped down from the premiership during the summer, succeeded by Andy Burnham. This followed weeks of speculation about whether Sir Keir would stay on as MP after his resignation. In an interview with the BBC shortly after stepping down as prime minister, Sir Keir had stated that he would remain MP until the next general election. However, in the published statement on Tuesday, Sir Keir said he was ready to “pass the baton to a successor.” “Now I will focus on other issues, such as international ones, including defense, security, trade, and technology in a rapidly changing world. I will also continue to work – as I have long done with others – to combat violence against women and girls, which is a matter of great importance to me,” Starmer announced. Bretagne Keir Starmer resigns as MP’s star Monde. Keir Starmer resigns from his post as deputy. Football. Imeri completes his transfer to the Bundesliga Other sports. Another gold medal for Albania Arberi. Hamza for Sejdiu: His season’s start is off to a bad start. Monde. Russia attacks Ukraine with drones: at least 12 dead Culture. Fines and asset seizures in Germany following a collection-items trafficking case

Reuters.- Keir Starmer anunció el martes que dimitirá como diputado, unas seis semanas después de haber dejado el cargo de primer ministro británico tras perder el apoyo de su Partido Laborista. Starmer llevó a los laboristas al poder en 2024 con una de las mayorías parlamentarias más holgadas de la historia moderna de Reino Unido, completando así un notable cambio de rumbo tras haber asumido la dirección del partido cuatro años antes, cuando este había obtenido su peor resultado electoral desde 1935. Sin embargo, el antiguo abogado, cuyo mandato como primer ministro se caracterizó por varios giros de 180 grados perjudiciales, no logró conectar con los votantes y fue perdiendo de forma progresiva el apoyo de la ciudadanía y de su partido. Starmer había dicho antes que seguiría como diputado hasta las próximas elecciones generales. Sin embargo, declaró al Camden New Journal, un periódico local de su circunscripción del norte de Londres, que cambió de opinión y tenía la intención de "centrarse en los asuntos internacionales". Confirmó su dimisión en la red social X. A pesar de la caída de su popularidad en el país, que le costó el cargo, los asuntos exteriores se consideraron a menudo uno de los puntos fuertes de Starmer durante su mandato como primer ministro. Colaboró con el presidente francés Emmanuel Macron para establecer la denominada "Coalición de los Dispuestos" en apoyo de Ucrania, restableció las relaciones con China, reconoció al Estado palestino y obtuvo un éxito desigual en sus esfuerzos por entablar relaciones con el presidente estadounidense Donald Trump. La noticia del diario no especificó cuándo se celebrarán las elecciones para cubrir el escaño de Starmer en la circunscripción de Holborn y St Pancras. Starmer conservó de manera holgada el escaño en 2024 con una mayoría de algo más de 11 mil 500 votos, aunque un candidato independiente que basó su campaña principalmente en la oposición a la guerra de Israel en Gaza obtuvo casi el 19% de los votos. En julio fue sustituido como primer ministro por Andy Burnham, quien se convirtió en el séptimo primer ministro británico en una década. Su llegada al cargo ha supuesto un repunte del Partido Laborista en las encuestas, aunque se enfrentará a una prueba más dura cuando el Parlamento reanude sus sesiones el martes.

Britain's former prime minister Keir Starmer, who stepped down as leader this summer after a tumultuous two years in power, announced Tuesday, September 1, he would quit parliament to focus on "international affairs." In a statement on social media, Starmer said it was the "right time" to resign as the MP for the Holborn and St Pancras seat in London after 11 years, triggering a by-election. "It is now time to step aside and focus on other issues: international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world," Starmer said in his statement. His constituency's local newspaper, theCamden New Journal, reported Starmer had informed the Labour Party of his decision to leave parliament after 11 years, six of those as leader of the party. Andy Burnham was parachuted into the prime minister role in July to take over from Starmer, who announced his resignation amid piling pressure from fellow Labour MPs. Starmer, a former human rights lawyer, is credited with reviving the centre-left Labour Party, helping it win a landslide victory in general elections in 2024. But the straitlaced politician was deeply unpopular during his two years in power, and eventually had to step down after multiple missteps, making way for the next leader in Britain's churn of prime ministers. Le Monde with AFP

Former British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras on Tuesday, September 1, triggering a by-election in this London constituency (United Kingdom), considered a Labour stronghold. Implanted in the Mandelson scandal, Starmer resigned from the position of Prime Minister at the start of the summer. He left 10 Downing Street at the end of July, handing over to Andy Burnham, the newly elected mayor of Manchester, who now leads the Labour Party. Shortly after his resignation, he had told the BBC that he intended to remain as MP until the next general elections, which are due to be held in principle in 2029. In a statement released to the Camden New Journal, the former head of government judged this to be the “right time” to leave the House of Commons, “passing the baton to a successor” eleven years after his first election, and to focus on a new job in the field of international affairs. “I will now focus on other topics, notably international affairs, particularly defense, security, trade, and technology in a rapidly evolving world,” he said, adding that he intends to continue “as I have long done with others, to combat violence against women and girls.” The Conservative Party chairman, Kevin Hollinrake, said with a biting edge that it was “quite logical that the last act (of his rival) as a MP should be a new U-turn after he pledged to stay in office.” Starmer’s announcement comes a few hours before Andy Burnham’s first address to the House of Commons as prime minister, during which he will outline his priorities and answer questions from MPs. The British press has been buzzing for weeks about the possibility that Starmer could bid for the position of NATO secretary general.

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Subscribe New invitations available. Participate The Front Page The news feed Comment section Home World Europe !Keir Starmer.Keir Starmer. - REUTERS. !Default author image By Belga Published on 1/09/2026 at 14:51 Reading time: 1 min Former British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who left Downing Street in July and handed over to Andy Burnham, announced on Tuesday that he is resigning from his seat in Parliament to devote himself to “international affairs.” “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,” announced the former Labour leader on X. “It is now time for me to step back and focus on other issues: international affairs, including defense, security, trade and technology, in a rapidly changing world,” said Mr. Starmer. To read also Is the United Kingdom stuck in an era of political instability? A by-election will be held soon to replace him in this constituency where he had been elected for 11 years, considered safe for Labour. “I will also continue to work with others, as I have done for many decades, to combat violence against women,” the 63-year-old former prosecutor said. Keir Starmer had become Prime Minister in July 2024 after Labour’s crushing victory in the general election, ending 14 years of Conservative governance. To read also Keir Starmer’s resignation: the failure of a Prime Minister who never convinced He became unpopular in the country and heavily criticized within Labour after clumsy decisions, controversies and local electoral defeats, he announced his departure on June 22 after just under two years in office. 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Sir Keir Starmer to stand down as MP in North London constituency Sir Keir Starmer is to stand down as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras reports suggest - triggering a by-election in the constituency Sir Keir Starmer is to stand down as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras reports suggest - triggering a by-election in the constituency. Speaking to the New Journal , Starmer said it had been a “huge honour and privilege” to represent the constituency and succeed Frank Dobson, whom he described as “such a great constituency MP and a member of the last Labour government”. Starmer said he would now focus on other areas of work, including international affairs, defence, security, trade and technology. He also said he intended to continue his work combating violence against women and girls, an issue he said mattered to him “hugely”. “It’s work I started before I became an MP and it’s work I’m keen to continue after I’m an MP,” he said. Starmer said his priorities would now be split between international affairs and continuing his work on violence against women and girls. His departure could open the door to a potential run by Green Party leader Zack Polanski, with the party having strong support in the constituency. In a statement issued on X, Sir Keir Starmer said it was the right time to “hand the baton over to a successor”. He said: “Over the summer, I have had time to reflect and consider my future. I have decided that now is the right time to step down as MP for Holborn and St Pancras and hand the baton over to a successor. “It’s been an honour and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country since taking over from the great Frank Dobson 11 years ago. But it is now time to step aside and focus on other issues: international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast changing world. I will also continue working with others as I have done over many decades to tackle violence against women and girls. “As I do that, I will always remain immensely proud to have represented the place Vic, the kids and I call home. “I look back with pride on what my constituency team and I have delivered in Holborn and St Pancras since 2015 and I thank all those who I was privileged to work with on so many issues of local concern: affordable housing projects, delivering first class education and tackling youth violence through our Camden Youth Safety Taskforce. “I want to thank my CLP team who have always stood firmly by me, and given me the support I needed as I stood for leader of the Labour Party and then as I took my party from political, moral and financial ruin to an historic landslide election win in 2024 and two years as prime minister when we stabilised the economy, rebuilt our public services, invested record amounts in our defence and security, began lifting hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty and transformed Britain’s reputation with international partners. “I want to thank my constituency staff who, throughout all those 11 years, have worked tirelessly on casework and helped me do my utmost to serve the people of Holborn and St Pancras. I could not have done this job without them. “There will now be a process to appoint my successor ahead of a by-election. Whoever is lucky enough to become the Labour candidate here will have my full support and backing and I will continue to give my full support to the Prime Minister and this Labour government. “Keir Starmer.”

The former British PM wants to focus on international affairs, including defense and security. AI generated Text-to-speech LONDON — Former British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Tuesday he will leave the House of Commons, triggering a by-election in his central London constituency. Starmer, who quit as prime minister in July after losing the confidence of Labour MPs following a dreadful set of local election results, said it is the “right time” to concentrate on new work. Starmer had told the BBC in July he would remain an MP until the next election, buttold his local paper, the Camden New Journal: “I will now focus on other things and that will be international affairs including defense, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world.” Starmer, who has represented Holborn and St Pancras since 2015, added: “I will also continue, as I have done for a long time now with others, work on combating violence against women and girls; that is an issue that matters to me hugely. It’s work I started before I became an MP and it’s work I’m keen to continue after I’m an MP.” His resignation will trigger a by-election — a big electoral test for Andy Burnham, his successor in Downing Street. He follows other former prime ministers, including David Cameron and Tony Blair, in leaving the Commons soon after or immediately following their departure from No. 10 Downing Street. The ex-PM held the Holborn and St Pancras seat in 2024 with an 11,572 majority, but faced a strong challenge from a left-wing independent and the Greens. Zack Polanski’s left-wing environmentalists are likely to form the biggest challenge to Labour in the normally safe London seat. A Green Party spokesperson suggested Polanski could contest the seat himself. “Zack has always made it clear he would like to be a London MP. London has been his home for over 20 years,” they said. Burnham paid tribute to Starmer in a House of Commons statement Tuesday, telling MPs he gave the U.K. “a lifetime of public service.” The Britain Project aims to help the centrist force with policy development and preparation for government. Lauren Edwards’ campaign is trying to restart a stalled process to legalized assisted dying in England and Wales — and she’s taking cues from her native Australia. The centrist bloc is giving the prime minister some breathing space — but MPs hope for a distinctive vision too. The prime minister will discuss how to “safeguard the environment” after record-breaking weather conditions.

Sir Keir Starmer has announced he is to stand down as MP for Holborn and St Pancras, a move that will trigger a by-election in the London seat, the BBC reports. In a statement to the Camden New Journal newspaper, he said it had been a “huge honor and privilege” to represent the constituency for 11 years but he would now turn his focus to “international affairs.” Sir Keir stood down as prime minister earlier in the summer, with Andy Burnham replacing him. It follows weeks of speculation about whether Sir Keir would remain as MP following his resignation. In a BBC interview shortly after stepping down as PM, Sir Keir said he would stay as an MP until the next general election. But in his statement released on Tuesday, Sir Keir said he was ready to “pass the baton to a successor.” He added: “I will now focus on other things and that will be international affairs including defense, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world. “I will also continue, as I have done for a long time now with others, to work on combating violence against women and girls; that is an issue that matters to me hugely.

Former British prime minister Keir Starmer is to step down as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras, a move that will trigger a by-election in the London seat. In an interview with the Camden New Journal, Mr Starmer said it was the "right time" to step down as an MP and focus on "international affairs". He told the paper: "It has been a huge honour and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country and to have taken over from Frank Dobson, who was such a great constituency MP and a member of the last Labour 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. "I will also continue, as I have done for a long time now with others, work on combating violence against women and girls; that is an issue that matters to me hugely. "It's work I started before I became an MP and it’s work I’m keen to continue after I’m an MP. So international affairs on the one hand, and continuing my work on violence against women and girls on the other."

Keir Starmer is to quit as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras, saying it is the right time for him to leave the Commons. Starmer, who resigned as prime minister in July, told the Camden New Journal he wanted to focus on international affairs and “pass the baton to a successor”. Starmer had previously said he would seek to serve out his term as a backbench MP, and his decision to quit will spark a byelection. The Green party leader, Zack Polanski, is understood to be considering a run for the central London seat. Starmer told the paper: “It has been a huge honour and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country and to have taken over from Frank Dobson, who was such a great constituency MP and a member of the last Labour 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. I will also continue, as I have done for a long time now with others, work on combating violence against women and girls.” Starmer’s seat, long seen as a safe Labour hold, is likely to be targeted by the Greens, potentially for Polanski who is a London assembly member. “Zack has always made it clear he would like to be a London MP. London has been his home for over 20 years,” a Green party spokesperson said. The independent leftwing candidate Andrew Feinstein was Starmer’s closest challenger at the last election. Feinstein, who had been close to Jeremy Corbyn, was then involved in Your Party but resigned amid disagreements over party finances. Starmer told the New Journal he had decided over the summer that he wanted to focus on international work and that meant he had to step down as an MP. “I think once you’ve been prime minister, it’s important to answer the question: what are you going to do next? Having decided I’m going to concentrate on international affairs, I think it’s right to step down,” he said. Starmer said he was proud of his work in the constituency since 2015 as well as his achievements as prime minister. “I want to thank all of those I was privileged to work with in the constituency on issues that matter hugely: affordable housing, first-class education and the work we did on knife crime through the Camden youth support, which was really, really important,” he said. He said his local party “always had my back”, adding: “They have been resolute in their support for me, firstly in becoming an MP and then becoming the leader of Labour party and then as prime minister.” The Conservative party chair, Kevin Hollinrake, said it was “fitting that his final act as a member of parliament is yet another U-turn having pledged to stay on. The decision to stand down will mean a costly byelection for taxpayers at a time when Andy Burnham and John Healey are plotting tax rises on hard-working families across the country.”

Former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is to stand down as an MP on the eve of Andy Burnham's first Prime Minister's Questions, triggering a by-election in his Holborn and St Pancras constituency. In a statement, Starmer said he felt it was the “right time” to step down as an MP and focus on new work on international affairs. His departure will open up a contest for a seat traditionally regarded as a Labour stronghold, with Green Party leader Zack Polanski among the names who could potentially be linked with the by-election. His decision comes as his successor in Downing Street, Andy Burnham, prepares to enter the House of Commons as prime minister for the first time since taking over from Sir Keir in July. In a statement posted to X, the ex-prime minister said: “It’s been an honour and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country since taking over from the great Frank Dobson 11 years ago. “But it is now time to step aside and focus on other issues: international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world. I will also continue working with others as I have done over many decades to tackle violence against women and girls. “As I do that, I will always remain immensely proud to have represented the place Vic, the kids and I call home.” He also thanked his constituency Labour Party team “who have always stood firmly by me, and given me the support I needed as I stood for leader of the Labour Party and then as I took my party from political, moral and financial ruin to an historic landslide election win in 2024 and two years as prime minister when we stabilised the economy, rebuilt our public services, invested record amounts in our defence and security, began lifting hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty and transformed Britain’s reputation with international partners”. He continued: “There will now be a process to appoint my successor ahead of a by-election. Whoever is lucky enough to become the Labour candidate here will have my full support and backing, and I will continue to give my full support to the Prime Minister and this Labour government.” READ MORE: - Andy Burnham vows to devolve more powers to Scotland - Programme for Government: John Swinney sets out agenda - Scotland violence against women policies ‘failed to deliver’ Sir Keir, a former director of public prosecutions, was first elected to the seat in the traditionally safe Labour seat in 2015. After taking over the Labour leadership from Jeremy Corbyn in 2020, he led the party to a landslide election victory – with a 174-seat majority – four years later. But the mood of optimism among Labour activists, who hoped for a calm, stable government after the turmoil of the previous decade, dissipated amid a succession of high-profile policy U-turns, from welfare reform to digital ID, which created a sense of drift and indecision at the heart of Government. The former prime minister, announced his decision in an interview with the Camden New Journal. Sir Keir said: "It has been a huge honour and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country and to have taken over from Frank Dobson, who was such a great constituency MP and a member of the last Labour 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. "I will also continue, as I have done for a long time now with others, work on combating violence against women and girls; that is an issue that matters to me hugely. "It's work I started before I became an MP and it's work I'm keen to continue after I'm an MP. "So international affairs on the one hand, and continuing my work on violence against women and girls on the other." Sir Keir first entered Parliament in 2015, succeeding former Labour cabinet minister Frank Dobson. He became Labour leader in 2020 and led the party to its landslide general election victory in 2024 before leaving Downing Street earlier this summer. After he vacated Downing Street in July, No 10 said he would stay on as an MP until the next general election. The Tories said his decision to step down marked “another U-turn”. Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said: “Whilst we have disagreed with almost all of Sir Keir Starmer’s decisions, I wish him and his family well for the future. “It is fitting that his final act as a Member of Parliament is yet another U-turn having pledged to stay on. “The decision to stand down will mean a costly by-election for taxpayers at a time when Andy Burnham are John Healey are plotting tax rises on hardworking families across the country. “The Conservatives look forward to giving the people of Holborn and St Pancras a chance to vote for a stronger economy and a stronger country in the weeks ahead.” Labour will now begin the process of selecting a candidate to contest the resulting by-election.

Sir Keir Starmer has announced he will step down as the MP,triggering a by-election in his London seat and prompting the first major political test for his successor Andy Burnham. Sir Keir resigned as prime minister in July to make way for Mr Burnham after he lost the support of his party in the wake of dire local election results, the scandal over appointing Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US and after a failure to deliver on key policies including welfare reform. He told the Camden New Journal that he felt now was the “right time” to leave the House of Commons to focus on new work around international affairs. The move will be a relief for the new top team around Mr Burnham with concerns that supporters of Sir Keir could form a new faction in the party to undermine the new prime minister. Sir Keir’s Holborn and St Pancras seat was previously seen as a winnable target by the Green Party and the by-election will be a test on how much support Mr Burnham has won back from its leader Zack Polanski, who has not ruled out running in the race. Announcing that he was stepping down, Sir Keir said: “It has been a huge honour and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country and to have taken over from Frank Dobson, who was such a great constituency MP and a member of the last Labour 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. I will also continue, as I have done for a long time now with others, work on combating violence against women and girls; that is an issue that matters to me hugely. “It’s work I started before I became an MP and it’s work I’m keen to continue after I’m an MP. So international affairs on the one hand, and continuing my work on violence against women and girls on the other.” Sir Keir has informed local Labour constituency party staff of his decision to exit Parliament after eleven years representing the north London seat. In his statement, he said his legacy as an MP and as a prime minister will benefit his constituency going forwards, which has included free school meals and lifting the two-child benefit cap. “I want to thank all of those I was privileged to work with in the constituency on issues that matter hugely: affordable housing, first-class education and the work we did on knife crime through the Camden youth support, which was really, really important,” he said. Sir Keir became PM in July 2024 following a landslide victory at the general election, but oversaw a massive decline in popularity for the government as discontent with his leadership grew. Labour suffered back-to-back record defeats at the local ballot box, with Sir Keir’s party losing 1,496 councillors across England and losing control of 38 councils in local elections. The victory was seen as a vindication of his attempts to detoxify the Labour brand after the Jeremy Corbyn years had led to allegations of a culture of antisemitism. He won the election on the back of a collapse in support for the Tories following scandals with Boris Johnson over parties in Downing street during the Covid lockdown and Liz Truss’s disastrous mini-Budget, which crashed the markets. But as PM, Sir Keir found himself tied in knots over a lack of money available for his government’s priorities, a failure to grow the economy and pledges he made in the manifesto election on not increasing the major taxes while not revisiting Brexit, explicitly ruling out rejoining the EU, Single Market and Customs Union. Mr Burnham’s victory in the Makerfield by-election effectively fired the starting gun for a leadership challenge against Sir Keir, and was the final trigger for his long-awaited resignation. Now, as Mr Burnham prepares to make his first speech as PM to the Commons his predecessor is going. In a statement on X, Sir Keir said it was the right time to “hand the baton over to a successor”. He said: “Over the summer, I have had time to reflect and consider my future. I have decided that now is the right time to step down as MP for Holborn and St Pancras and hand the baton over to a successor.” Reflecting on his time as prime minister, Sir Keir again pointed to Labour’s 2024 election victory, and said: “Whoever is lucky enough to become the Labour candidate here will have my full support and backing and I will continue to give my full support to the prime minister and this Labour government.” The news also comes two months after two men were jailed for conspiring to carry out arson attacks targeting a property and a car connected to Sir Keir, which were believed to have been ordered on behalf of Russia. The Tories said Sir Keir’s decision to step down marked “another U-turn”. Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said: “It is fitting that his final act as a member of parliament is yet another U-turn having pledged to stay on. “The decision to stand down will mean a costly by-election for taxpayers at a time when Andy Burnham and John Healey are plotting tax rises on hardworking families across the country. “The Conservatives look forward to giving the people of Holborn and St Pancras a chance to vote for a stronger economy and a stronger country in the weeks ahead.” Greens leader Mr Polanksi is currently a member of the London Assembly and has not stood in any by-elections for a chance at securing a seat in Westminster. A Green Party spokesperson said: “Zack has always made it clear he would like to be a London MP. London has been his home for over 20 years.” For the latest political headlines delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily View from Westminster newsletter here. Subscribe here to get the latest updates from The Independent

On Tuesday, Andy Burnham will address the Commons as prime minister for the first time, with MPs back at work after the summer recess.This comes six weeks after Burnham entered up Downing Street, and 16 years after he last stood at the dispatch box as part of a Labour government. While Downing Street has not given much away, what is known is that he will meet his cabinet before delivering a statement “setting out the direction of his government” and then taking questions from MPs. READ NEXT:Andy Burnham is giving 15% of his PM’s salary to homelessness charitiesBurnham is set to finally come face to face with his political opponents, in the close confines of the chamber, with ranks of Labour members behind him. The BBC reports that Burnham’s speech will centre on affordability.A source told the broadcasterover the weekend that Burnham does not want his government to “stand by and watch on as every bill goes up and up” and he “will promise the country that wherever we can make life more affordable we will”. That has been the thread running through Burnham’s announcements throughout the summer, all aimed at tackling the cost of living: a £2 cap on bus fares, the removal of VAT from domestic energy bills, and a 20% cut to business rates for pubs, clubs and music venues next year.Not all of it has landed smoothly, as the Sports Direct founderattacked his “populist” High Street plans, but it has given him a recognisable message to carry into the chamber. When Burnham became prime minister, MPs were already on their break, leaving him free to tour the country unveiling policies without a weekly interrogation, but that ends on the first day of September.As everything Andy Burnham has done since coming to power shows, the announcements have come thick and fast. The challenges he faces having ousted Keir Starmer begin properly now, and the diary is unforgiving.His first session of Prime Minister’s Questions comes on Wednesday. Then the party conferences,Chancellor John Healey’s first Budget, and later in the year a further speech setting out his longer-term plans. Burnham also arrives at the dispatch box with several arguments already on the record, having secured the early prison release changes he wanted, though not without cost. Meanwhile, the prime minister faces the threat of a rebellion from many Labour MPs over his apparent willingness toallow North Sea oil drilling at Rosebank. He has also said that, unlike Starmer,he will not voteon the assisted dying bill. Six weeks of summer goodwill meets its first real test for Burnham, as the pressure of the occasion, the scrutiny, and the deftness with which he handles the attacks, the barbs and the asides will all shape how the public sees him. Email address: View ourPrivacy PolicyandTerms & Conditions TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.Read more We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism. Editorial enquiries, please contact:[email protected] Commercial enquiries, please contact:[email protected] © The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLEthelondoneconomic.com- All Rights Reserved.Privacy © The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLEthelondoneconomic.com- All Rights Reserved.Privacy © The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLEthelondoneconomic.com- All Rights Reserved.Privacy

The great and principled man of the people, Sir Keir Starmer, is to stand down as an MP. Despite repeatedly insisting that he would remain on the back benches, the former Prime Minister will give up his Holborn and St Pancras seat, triggering yet another by-election. Labour MPs, including the former party leader himself, spent ample time whinging that Rishi Sunak would abandon parliament after losing the general election. Indeed in May 2024 condescending Keir cackled in the Commons: ‘At his mansion in Richmond, (Rishi) can enjoy a brand-new Labour Mayor of North Yorkshire. At his pad in Kensington, he can celebrate a historic third term for the Mayor of London. Now that he, too, can enjoy the benefits of this changed Labour party, is he really still in such a hurry to get back to California?’ Writing in the Camden New Journal, the former Prime Minister claimed it was time to ‘pass the baton to a successor’. Again, this was despite pledging as early ago as July 3: ‘I’m going to stay as an MP until the next election’. Given the demographics of his constituency, there is every chance that successor could be a Green or a deranged Gaza-obsessed independent. The deposed Labour leader declared that he now wants to spend more time on international affairs – as if Britain has not endured enough of his self-defeating human rights finger-wagging abroad. He also plans to devote himself to tackling violence against women and girls, which is interesting given that he cannot even define what they are. The former prime minister said: I will now focus on other things and that will be international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world. I will also continue, as I have done for a long time now with others, work on combating violence against women and girls; that is an issue that matters to me hugely. It’s work I started before I became an MP and it’s work I’m keen to continue after I’m an MP. So international affairs on the one hand, and continuing my work on violence against women and girls on the other.

SIR Keir Starmer is quitting as an MP – triggering a by-election battle in London. The former PM said it was the “right time” to leave Parliament after 11 years representing Holborn and St Pancras. Sir Keir, who left Downing Street at the end of July, said he was ready to “pass the baton to a successor” and focus on a new career on the international stage. He plans to work on defence, security, trade and technology as well as continuing his campaign against violence towards women and girls. Sir Keir has already informed his local Labour constituency party of his decision, with the party now starting the process of selecting a candidate to replace him. Sir Keir told the Camden New Journal: “It has been a huge honour and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country and to have taken over from Frank Dobson, who was such a great constituency MP and a member of the last Labour 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. “I will also continue, as I have done for a long time now with others, work on combating violence against women and girls; that is an issue that matters to me hugely. “It’s work I started before I became an MP and it’s work I’m keen to continue after I’m an MP. “So international affairs on the one hand, and continuing my work on violence against women and girls on the other.” Sir Keir was first elected to the Commons in 2015 after previously serving as Director of Public Prosecutions. He went on to become Labour leader in 2020 after the party’s disastrous 2019 general election defeat under Jeremy Corbyn. Four years later he led Labour to a landslide victory and entered No10 as Prime Minister. But he left Downing Street at the end of July, with Andy Burnham succeeding him as PM. Sir Keir defended his record in office, telling his local newspaper: ““I’m proud of what we delivered. “I’ve achieved it by being a locally based MP with a fantastically supportive CLP. Without them, it wouldn’t be possible for me to step up and lead the Labour Party and then change the Labour Party to face the country and put it in a position to win the election and be in government.” The Tories said Sir Keir’s decision to step down marked “another U-turn”. Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said: “It is fitting that his final act as a Member of Parliament is yet another U-turn having pledged to stay on. “The decision to stand down will mean a costly by-election for taxpayers at a time when Andy Burnham and John Healey are plotting tax rises on hardworking families across the country. “The Conservatives look forward to giving the people of Holborn and St Pancras a chance to vote for a stronger economy and a stronger country in the weeks ahead.” Sir Keir’s departure will now trigger a by-election in what has traditionally been a safe Labour seat. But the Greens will see the contest as an opportunity to make inroads ito Labour’s support in the capital. Asked whether Green leader Zack Polanski could stand, a party spokesman fuelled speculation by saying: “Zack has always made it clear he would like to be a London MP. London has been his home for over 20 years.” In the local elections in May, the party more than doubled its share of the vote across the capital to 22.3 per cent and won 297 council seats as Labour suffered heavy losses. The Greens also seized control of former Labour strongholds including Hackney, Waltham Forest and Lewisham.

Democracy Dies in Darkness WorldChevron right 5More article actions By Violet Jira Keir Starmer, who stepped down as Britain’s prime minister in July, is leaving the British Parliament, he said on Tuesday, signaling the end of his domestic political career. Starmer made the announcement in an He told the paper that he felt now was the “right time” and that he would focus on “international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world.” Starmer worked as a lawyer before being elected to represent Holborn and St. Pancras in 2015. In 2020, he was elected as leader of the Labour Party. He led the opposition party until 2024 when a landslide Labour victory set up his election as prime minister. _Catch up quickly every weekday morning with a rundown of the 7 most important and interesting stories.__Sign up for The 7 newsletter_ _._ The 7 logo The 7 LIVE PreviousNext Ben Noll 59 minutes ago Mariana Alfaro September 1, 2026 Aoife Walsh September 1, 2026 Dan Diamond September 1, 2026 Ian Duncan September 1, 2026 Jamie Ross and Izin Akhabau September 1, 2026 Susan Svrluga August 31, 2026 Jonathan Edwards August 31, 2026 Alexei Koseff August 31, 2026 Emily Yahr August 31, 2026 4Comments !pixel

Keir Starmer, who resigned as Britain's Prime Minister in June, announced Tuesday he will also be stepping down from Parliament to focus on international affairs. Speaking to Camden New Journal, Starmer—who led the Labour Party to a landslide victory in 2024—said it had “been a huge honor and privilege” to serve as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Holborn and St. Pancras in North London for the past 11 years. A by-election will now take place to replace Starmer, with details to be finalized on the contenders and exact date. Shortly after the news broke, Starmer shared a statement via social media, further explaining the reasons behind his departure. You can read his words in full, below: “Over the summer, I have had time to reflect and consider my future. I have decided that now is the right time to step down as MP for Holborn and St Pancras and hand the baton over to a successor. It’s been an honor and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country since taking over from the great Frank Dobson 11 years ago. But it is now time to step aside and focus on other issues: international affairs including defense, security, trade and technology in a fast changing world. I will also continue working with others as I have done over many decades to tackle violence against women and girls. As I do that, I will always remain immensely proud to have represented the place Vic, the kids and I call home. I look back with pride on what my constituency team and I have delivered in Holborn and St Pancras since 2015 and I thank all those who I was privileged to work with on so many issues of local concern: affordable housing projects, delivering first class education and tackling youth violence through our Camden Youth Safety Taskforce. I want to thank my CLP team who have always stood firmly by me, and given me the support I needed as I stood for Leader of the Labour Party and then as I took my Party from political, moral and financial ruin to an historic landslide election win in 2024 and two years as Prime Minister when we stabilised the economy, rebuilt our public services, invested record amounts in our defense and security, began lifting hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty and transformed Britain’s reputation with international partners. I want to thank my constituency staff who, throughout all those 11 years, have worked tirelessly on casework and helped me do my utmost to serve the people of Holborn and St Pancras. I could not have done this job without them. There will now be a process to appoint my successor ahead of a by-election. Whoever is lucky enough to become the Labour candidate here will have my full support and backing and I will continue to give my full support to the Prime Minister and this Labour government.”

Former British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced his decision to leave the House of Commons. The former prime minister announced his departure from the British Parliament after concluding his political career as head of government. Starmer is stepping down as the Member of Parliament for the Holborn and St. Pancras constituency, a position he has held for 11 years. “It has been an honor and a privilege to represent the best constituency in the country since I took over this seat from the great Frank Dobson 11 years ago,” Starmer wrote. The former prime minister said that after ending his career in Parliament, he plans to “focus on other issues: international affairs, particularly defense, security, trade, and technology in a rapidly changing world.” In addition, Starmer intends to continue fighting violence against women and girls. Because Starmer is leaving Parliament, the U.K. will be forced to hold a by-election in his district in central London. “The process of appointing my successor ahead of the by-election will now begin. Whoever is fortunate enough to become the Labour Party candidate here will have my full support and assistance, and I will continue to give my full support to the prime minister and this Labour government,” the former prime minister emphasized. The by-election in the Holborn and St. Pancras district could weaken the Labour Party if Zach Polanski—a fairly popular leader of the Green Party—runs for Parliament. He announced this on X. Starmer assured that Britain will continue to support Ukraine. On July 16, British Prime Minister Kir Starmer arrived in Ukraine on an official visit. In Kyiv, he will meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and confirm that London’s support for Ukraine will remain unchanged even after his upcoming resignation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded British Prime Minister Keir Starmer a state honor. The head of the British government was presented with the Order of Freedom for his significant contribution to strengthening Ukrainian-British relations and his support for Ukraine. Read us on Telegram and Sends

According to The Guardian, in an interview with the Camden New Journal, Keir Starmer expressed his wish to focus on international affairs and to "pass the baton to his successor." The former British prime minister Keir Starmer resigns from his seat in Parliament. Keir Starmer, who resigned from his post as British prime minister in July, has just announced his resignation from his Holborn and St Pancras constituency MP seat. Previously, Mr. Starmer had said that he would complete his non-governmental MP mandate. His resignation will trigger a by-election. The Green Party leader, Zack Polanski, is considering standing in this central-London constituency. Mr. Starmer said: "It is a great honour and a privilege to represent the country’s largest constituency and to succeed Frank Dobson, a long-standing regional MP and member of the previous Labour government. I will now focus on other areas, including international issues such as defence, security, trade and technology in a rapidly changing world. I will also continue the work I have led with others for a long time, fighting violence against women and girls." Mr. Starmer’s seat, long considered a Labour stronghold, risks becoming a target for the Greens. Mr. Polanski, currently a London councillor, could be a potential candidate. Mr. Starmer had previously revealed that he had decided to devote himself to international affairs, which implied his resignation from Parliament. "I think after being prime minister, it is important to ask: what next? Having decided to focus on international issues, I felt resigning from my MP seat was the right decision," said the former British prime minister. Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/cuu-thu-tuong-anh-keir-starmer-tu-bo-ghe-nghi-si-2551208.html

Former UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Tuesday that he is standing down as MP for Holborn and St Pancras, saying it had been a huge honour and privilege to represent the constituency for 11 years and sharing that he now intends to turn his focus to international affairs and tackling violence against women and girls. Starmer posted a statement on his X account, following weeks of speculation about whether he would remain as MP after standing down as prime minister earlier in the summer, with Andy Burnham replacing him. Starmer’s move will trigger a by-election in the London seat. In his statement, Starmer said he was ready to “pass the baton to a successor”. “Over the summer, I have had time to reflect and consider my future. I have decided that now is the right time to step down as MP for Holborn and St Pancras and hand the baton over to a successor,” he said. “It has been a huge honour and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country and to have taken over from Frank Dobson, who was such a great constituency MP and a member of the last Labour government,” he said. He said that he will now focus on other things, and that will be international affairs, including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world. “I will also continue, as I have done for a long time now with others, to work on combating violence against women and girls; that is an issue that matters to me hugely,” he said. Trending Stories "It's work I started before I became an MP and it's work I'm keen to continue after I'm an MP. So international affairs on the one hand, and continuing my work on violence against women and girls on the other.”

Former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is to quit Parliament, saying he felt it was the “right time” to step down as an MP and focus on new work on international affairs. He was replaced by Andy Burnham as Prime Minister and Labour leader in July after losing the support of his party in the wake of a string of mis-steps, policy U-turns and dire local election results. Mr Burnham, whose party now faces a by-election challenge, paid tribute to his predecessor for creating “a platform to change this country for the better”. Sir Keir – who previously said he would serve out the rest of his term – will step down as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras, a move that will trigger a by-election in the north London seat. He has informed local Labour constituency party staff of his departure after 11 years representing the constituency, and said he would back whoever is selected as the party’s candidate. Green Party leader Zack Polanski is understood to be considering standing in the constituency. In a statement posted to X, ex-prime minister Sir Keir said: “It’s been an honour and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country since taking over from the great Frank Dobson 11 years ago. “But it is now time to step aside and focus on other issues: international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world. I will also continue working with others as I have done over many decades to tackle violence against women and girls. “As I do that, I will always remain immensely proud to have represented the place Vic, the kids and I call home.” He also thanked his constituency Labour Party team “who have always stood firmly by me, and given me the support I needed as I stood for leader of the Labour Party and then as I took my party from political, moral and financial ruin to an historic landslide election win in 2024 and two years as prime minister when we stabilised the economy, rebuilt our public services, invested record amounts in our defence and security, began lifting hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty and transformed Britain’s reputation with international partners”. He continued: “There will now be a process to appoint my successor ahead of a by-election. Whoever is lucky enough to become the Labour candidate here will have my full support and backing, and I will continue to give my full support to the Prime Minister and this Labour government.” Mr Burnham began his Commons debut as Prime Minister by praising Sir Keir’s support for Ukraine and the Hillsborough Law campaign. “He has given this country a lifetime of public service, Mr Speaker, particularly for those fighting for justice,” Mr Burnham said. “His leadership took our party from one of its worst defeats to its best victories, and created a platform to change this country for the better. We will use it well, Mr Speaker.” Sir Keir, a former director of public prosecutions, was first elected to the traditionally safe Labour seat in 2015. After taking over the Labour leadership from Jeremy Corbyn in 2020, he led the party to a landslide election victory – with a 174-seat majority – some four years later. But the mood of optimism among Labour activists, who hoped for a calm, stable government after the turmoil of the previous decade, dissipated amid a succession of high-profile U-turns, from welfare reform to digital ID, which created a sense of drift and indecision at the heart of Government. Sir Keir’s interest in overseas affairs was apparent during his premiership, when his critics labelled him “never here Keir” because of the amount of time he spent on diplomatic missions abroad. After he vacated Downing Street in July, No 10 said he would stay on as an MP until the next general election. The Tories said his decision to step down marked “another U-turn”. Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said: “Whilst we have disagreed with almost all of Sir Keir Starmer’s decisions, I wish him and his family well for the future. “It is fitting that his final act as a Member of Parliament is yet another U-turn having pledged to stay on. “The decision to stand down will mean a costly by-election for taxpayers at a time when Andy Burnham are John Healey are plotting tax rises on hardworking families across the country. “The Conservatives look forward to giving the people of Holborn and St Pancras a chance to vote for a stronger economy and a stronger country in the weeks ahead.” Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said she was “surprised to hear he was standing down from Parliament” but could “understand why he would not want to spend time with the Labour MPs who treated him so badly after he won them their seats”. The Greens are expected to target the seat, with leader Mr Polanski, who is a London Assembly member, potentially standing. A Green Party spokesperson said: “Zack (Polanski) has always made it clear he would like to be a London MP. London has been his home for over 20 years.” Comedy candidate Count Binface, who regularly stands in elections and came second to Nigel Farage in last month’s Clacton contest, said on social media: “Can’t get a moment’s peace on this bloody planet.” Former ministers seen as loyal to Sir Keir, and who left the Government after Mr Burnham entered office, paid tribute to his record. Ex-deputy prime minister David Lammy said on X that “he deserves enormous credit”. “In government, faced with a country wracked by austerity and left in financial ruin, he brought stability to the economy and steadied our public services. He delivered one of the most significant overhauls of renters’ and workers’ rights in a generation, drove record investments in affordable housing, and restored Britain’s standing in the world.” Mike Tapp, who was migration minister, said: “We are entering uncertain times on defence and security. We need the skills, leadership and experience of Sir Keir Starmer on the global stage. “He is a man led by service and I expect this is by no means the end.” Former housing secretary Steve Reed said “he leaves Parliament now with his head held high and the country in a better state than he found it”, and ex-business secretary Peter Kyle said Sir Keir “led with grit, driven by a love of country”.

LONDON, September 1 (Reuters) - Former British prime minister Keir Starmer will resign from his seat as MP for Holborn and St Pancras, in north London. "I will focus on other things, international affairs: defense, security, trade, and technology in a world that is changing rapidly," he said in Tuesday's edition of the local newspaper, The Camden New Journal. The publication does not specify when Starmer's successor in the House of Commons will be elected. The Labour politician, who will be 64 on Wednesday, resigned in July from the Labour leadership and his duties as prime minister and was replaced on July 20 by Andy Burnham. (Reporting by Sam Tobin; French version by Sophie Louet)