STORY
Former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced that he will stand down as the Labour MP for Holborn and St Pancras. His departure from the House of Commons will trigger a by election in the north London constituency.
Sir Keir said he had spent the summer considering his future and had concluded that it was the right time to hand the constituency to a successor. He intends to focus on international affairs, including defence, security, trade and technology, while continuing his work to combat violence against women and girls.
He has represented Holborn and St Pancras since 2015 and became Labour leader in 2020 before leading the party to victory at the 2024 general election. Sir Keir left Downing Street in July 2026 following the election of Andy Burnham as Labour leader and Prime Minister.