Sir Keir Starmer to step down as MP triggering by-election

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The announcement comes as Andy Burnham settles into his new role in Downing Street.

Sir Keir 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.

A by-election will be held to decide a new MP for Holborn and St Pancras, where Labour could face a challenge from the Green Party and independent candidates.

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.”

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Sir Keir 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.”

Labour allies have wished Sir Keir well for the future and thanked him for his work.

The Business & Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, told LBC’s Andrew Marr that he "would pay the warmest of tributes to Keir”, but said he "would prefer a situation where former Prime Ministers stay around… I quite liked when Theresa May stayed around for a little bit."

The Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee and Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, Dame Emily Thornberry, has told LBC that she is “sad to see [Starmer] go”.

Speaking on Tonight with Andrew Marr, Dame Emily said that she wishes Sir Keir and his family “well”.

She added that "he made an important contribution to the party” and said the upcoming by-election in Sir Keir's constituency will be “a tough fight” for Labour.

London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan wrote on X: "Keir’s made a huge contribution to the Labour Party and to our country. He’s a man of great integrity who has devoted much of his career to public service.

"He's only the fifth Labour leader to have won a general election, which allowed him to put in place changes that will have a real and lasting impact on people’s lives, from strengthening renters’ rights and employment rights to expanding breakfast club provision.

"These are meaningful changes which will improve the lives of people in London and across the country for years to come.

"I wish Keir and his family my very best wishes for the future."

Labour MP Steve Reed wrote on X: "Keir leaves an incredible legacy. Taking Labour into government by a landslide just 5 years after our worst ever election result.

"He leaves Parliament now with his head held high and the country in a better state than he found it. Thank you Keir and good luck for what comes next."

The move will trigger a by-election in the London seat of Holborn and St Pancras to find a replacement candidate for Sir Keir.

This marks the second time that the safe Labour seat has been available in 47 years, and it is expected to draw interest from far and wide.

Sir Keir reflected on his legacy as an MP for the borough, highlighting his work on areas including housing, education, tackling knife crime, and free school meals for children in the area.

A timeline for the expected by-election will likely be laid out over the coming weeks.

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.