Read: Keir Starmer’s full resignation statement as he stands down as MP
Key Points
- Former Prime Minister Keir Starmer will step down as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras, leaving the British Parliament.
- Starmer said he would focus more on international affairs going forward, as well as tackling violence against women and girls.
- Starmer was previously ousted as Prime Minister by Andy Burnham, who is set to face his first Prime Minister's Questions this week.
- He will continue to support the Labour Party and its candidate in the by-election caused by his resignation.
Former Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced he will stand down as the Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras.
The former Prime Minister announced today that he will stand down as an MP after 11 years representing his constituency.
Starmer resigned as Prime Minister in July to make way for Andy Burnham, who was elected Labour Party leader following his by-election victory in Makerfield. Burnham went on to assume the role of Prime Minister after it was vacated by Starmer.
Now that he is leaving Parliament, it is expected that Starmer will focus on international affairs, and he has said he will also continue his work tackling violence against women and girls.
He added that he would give his continued full support to the Labour Party and to whomever the party fields as its candidate in the resulting by-election.
The former Prime Minister published a full statement on X announcing his resignation as MP for Holborn and St Pancras. The statement is replicated 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 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
