- Sir Keir Starmer resigns as Holborn and St Pancras MP.
- His departure triggers a by-election in the Labour stronghold.
- He will now prioritize international affairs and women’s safety.
Sir Keir Starmer has announced that he will step down as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras, triggering a by-election in the London constituency.
In a statement to the Camden New Journal newspaper, Sir Keir said it had been a “huge honour and privilege” to represent the constituency for 11 years, but said he would now turn his focus to “international affairs”.
Starmer Says It Is Time To ‘Pass The Baton’
Sir Keir, who stood down as prime minister earlier in the summer, said he had spent time reflecting on his future and had decided that it was the right time to leave Parliament.
In his statement released on Tuesday, he said, “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.”
He added: “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.”
Starmer also said he would continue working to tackle violence against women and girls.
It has been an honour and a privilege to represent Holborn and St Pancras for the last 11 years.
My statement. pic.twitter.com/xzu4xcIno2
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) September 1, 2026
“I will also continue working with others as I have done over many decades to tackle violence against women and girls,” he said.
He added: “It’s work I started before I became an MP and it’s work I’m keen to continue after I’m an MP. So international affairs on the one hand, and continuing my work on violence against women and girls on the other.”
Starmer Reflects On His Time In Holborn And St Pancras
Starmer said he would remain proud of representing the constituency, which he described as the place he, Vic and the children call home.
“As I do that, I will always remain immensely proud to have represented the place Vic, the kids and I call home,” he said.
He also looked back on what he and his constituency team had delivered since 2015, including affordable housing projects, first-class education and efforts to tackle youth violence through the Camden Youth Safety Taskforce.
“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.”
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Thanks To Labour And Constituency Teams
Starmer thanked his CLP team for supporting him during his time as Labour leader and prime minister.
“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.”
He also thanked his constituency staff for their work over the past 11 years.
“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.”
By-Election To Follow Formal Resignation
Starmer said a process would now begin to appoint his successor ahead of a by-election.
“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.”
A date will not be set for the by-election until Sir Keir formally resigns his Commons seat.
The announcement follows weeks of speculation about whether Sir Keir would remain an MP following his resignation as prime minister. In a BBC interview shortly after stepping down as PM, he had said he would stay on as an MP until the next general election.
Labour Stronghold Faces By-Election
Holborn and St Pancras has long been a Labour stronghold, with Sir Keir securing a more than 11,000-vote majority in the 2024 general election.
Sir Keir’s 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.
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