Keir Starmer announces he is standing down as MP

Former Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer has announced his decision to step down as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Holborn and St Pancras constituency in London. The announcement will lead to a by-election in the seat. In a statement to the Camden New Journal, Sir Keir expressed that it has been a "huge honour and privilege" to represent the constituency for the last 11 years, but he is now shifting his focus towards "international affairs".

Starmer previously resigned as Prime Minister earlier this summer, with Andy Burnham taking over the position. The news of Sir Keir's decision to leave his MP role follows weeks of speculation regarding his continued presence in the constituency post his resignation. In a BBC interview shortly after leaving the Prime Minister's role, Sir Keir had previously stated that he would continue to be an MP until the next general election.

However, in his latest statement released on Tuesday, Sir Keir said he was prepared to "pass the baton to a successor". He added that he would now concentrate on matters related to international affairs, including defence, security, trade, and technology, which are crucial in a rapidly evolving global landscape. Sir Keir also reiterated his commitment to continue his long-standing work on combating violence against women and girls, an issue that holds great significance to him.

The Holborn and St Pancras constituency has traditionally been a Labour stronghold, and Sir Keir had secured a more than 11,000-vote majority in the 2024 general election. The exact date for the by-election has not been set until Sir Keir formally resigns his Commons seat.