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Keir Starmer, who resigned as prime minister in July, has announced he will leave Parliament, triggering a byelection in the London constituency of Holborn and St Pancras. The Green party leader Zack Polanski is considering a run for the seat.
Keir Starmer, the former prime minister of the United Kingdom, has confirmed that he intends to stand down as the Member of Parliament for the London constituency of Holborn and St Pancras.
Starmer, who resigned from his role as prime minister back in July, explained to the Camden New Journal that he had concluded it was the right moment for him to leave the House of Commons. He stated that he wanted to focus his energies on international affairs and pass the baton to a successor who could continue representing the constituency in Parliament.
His decision to resign will automatically trigger a byelection in the seat, which has historically been regarded as a safe Labour stronghold. Starmer had previously indicated that he planned to remain in Parliament as a backbench MP and serve out the remainder of his term, so this announcement represents a notable shift in his stated intentions.
The surprise move is likely to attract significant attention from opposition parties, particularly the Greens, who are now expected to mount a serious challenge in the seat. The Green party leader, Zack Polanski, is understood to be actively considering a bid for the central London constituency.
A spokesperson for the Green party confirmed that Polanski, who currently serves as a London Assembly member, has long expressed a desire to become a London MP, noting that the capital has been his home for more than twenty years. The seat could also attract independent candidates, as demonstrated by Andrew Feinstein, an independent left-wing politician who emerged as Starmer's closest challenger during the last general election.
Feinstein, who had been regarded as a serious contender in the previous contest, is likely to consider another run, particularly given the unusual circumstances surrounding Starmer's departure. In his interview with the Camden New Journal, Starmer explained that he had made his decision over the summer after deliberating on what he wanted to focus on in the next chapter of his career.
He noted that having served as prime minister, it was important to answer the question of what he intended to do next, and concluded that concentrating on international affairs was the right path, which necessarily meant stepping down as an MP. In reflecting on his time in office, Starmer expressed pride in both his achievements as prime minister and the work he had undertaken in the constituency since first being elected in 2015.
He paid tribute to the local party members and activists who he said had always supported him, first in becoming an MP, then in becoming leader of the Labour Party, and finally in serving as prime minister. He highlighted several key local issues he had worked on during his time as constituency MP, including affordable housing, education, and efforts to tackle knife crime through initiatives such as the Camden youth support programme.
He also outlined his future priorities, stating that he intended to focus on international affairs spanning defence, security, trade, and technology in what he described as a fast-changing world. He additionally confirmed that he would continue his longstanding work on combating violence against women and girls.
The Conservative Party chair, Kevin Hollinrake, was quick to criticise the decision, suggesting that it was fitting that Starmer's final act as a member of parliament was yet another U-turn, having previously pledged to remain in the role. The resignation will result in a costly byelection for taxpayers, adding to the political attention surrounding the seat in the coming months
Keir Starmer Holborn And St Pancras Byelection Labour Green Party Zack Polanski
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