Former British PM Keir Starmer to leave politics

Former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced his decision to step down as an MP in order to concentrate on international affairs. This decision will lead to a by-election in his constituency of Holborn and St Pancras, a Labour stronghold that he has represented since 2015. Sir Keir, who resigned as Prime Minister in July, had previously stated that he would remain an MP until the next general election, which is not until 2029.

However, his resignation came as a shock, coming weeks after speculation arose about his intentions. In a statement to the Camden New Journal, Sir Keir described his time as an MP as a "huge honour and privilege" and expressed readiness to "pass the baton to a successor". He said it was the "right time" for him to leave Parliament and added that he would be focusing on international affairs, including defence, security, trade, and technology, as well as continuing his work on combating violence against women and girls, which is an issue close to his heart.

Sir Keir became Prime Minister after a landslide victory in the 2024 election, but he left the role following pressure from Labour MPs to step aside. His announcement comes just hours before his successor, Andy Burnham, is set to make his first statement in the Commons, outlining his priorities and answering questions from MPs. The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, wished Sir Keir well for the future, while Tory Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake accused him of making "another U-turn" and claimed it would result in a costly by-election for taxpayers.

A date for the by-election has not been set until Sir Keir formally resigns his seat. Holborn and St Pancras has traditionally been a Labour stronghold, with Sir Keir winning a more than 11,000-vote majority at the last general election. Labour's main challenger in the seat is likely to be the Greens, who received 29.8% of the vote in the last local elections, compared to Labour's 39.5%. Reform UK came in third place.