Keir Starmer to Stand Down as MP
Last update: September 1, 2026
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Just months after leaving Downing Street Keir Starmer is quitting Parliament altogether
Sir Keir Starmer has announced he is to stand down as MP for Holborn and St Pancras a move that will trigger a by election in the London seat.
In a statement to the Camden New Journal newspaper he said it had been a huge honour and privilege to represent the constituency for 11 years but he would now turn his focus to international affairs.
Sir Keir stood down as prime minister earlier in the summer with Andy Burnham replacing him.
It follows weeks of speculation about whether Sir Keir would remain as MP following his resignation.
In an interview shortly after stepping down as PM Sir Keir said he would stay as an MP until the next general election.
But in his statement released on Tuesday Sir Keir said he was ready to pass the baton to a successor.
He added I will now focus on other things and that will be international affairs including defence security trade and technology in a fast changing world.
I will also continue as I have done for a long time now with others to work on combating violence against women and girls that is an issue that matters to me hugely.
It is work I started before I became an MP and it is work I am keen to continue after I am an MP. So international affairs on the one hand and continuing my work on violence against women and girls on the other.
Sir Keirs announcement comes hours before Burnham is due to make his first statement in the Commons as prime minister setting out his priorities and taking questions from MPs.
A date will not be set for the by election until Sir Keir formally resigns his Commons seat.
The seat in inner north London covering Camden Town Kings Cross Kentish Town and Bloomsbury has been Labour since its creation in 1983. Before Starmer it was held for 36 years by Labour big figure Frank Dobson.
Starmer a former Director of Public Prosecutions first won it in 2015 with a 15,000 majority and held it comfortably ever since. In the 2024 general election even as Labours vote share dipped nationally from its 1997 high he secured an 11,572 majority on a 30,000 turnout a safe seat but notably down from his 27,000 majority in 2019 reflecting the rise of independent and Green challengers in inner London.
His decision to go now is striking. Historically former prime ministers have tended to linger a bit. Tony Blair stayed on for a few weeks before standing down in Sedgefield in 2007 David Cameron resigned from Witney two months after leaving No 10 in 2016 and Boris Johnson and Liz Truss both remained as backbenchers for a period. Starmer had said he would see out the Parliament so Tuesdays announcement marks a clear change of heart.
While Labour will be strong favourites Holborn and St Pancras has become a test bed for left wing independents Greens and Lib Dems in recent years especially over issues like Gaza housing and clean air.
With Andy Burnham now in No 10 and about to face the Commons for the first time as PM the contest will be seen as an early verdict on his leadership.
No date yet as Starmer must formally resign by taking the Chiltern Hundreds but Camden Council will be on by election alert.
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