Sir Keir Starmer has written directly to Labour members following his decision to step down as MP for Holborn and St Pancras, thanking them for their support and making clear that he intends to remain an active part of the Labour movement.
The message follows his announcement that he will leave the Commons after 11 years, triggering a by-election in the north London seat. In a statement published on X, the former Prime Minister said he had spent the summer reflecting on his future and had concluded that now was the right time to “hand the baton over to a successor”.
Starmer wrote:
“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.”
He said it was now time to step aside and focus on other issues, including international affairs, defence, security, trade and technology, while continuing his long-standing work to tackle violence against women and girls. He added that he would always remain immensely proud to have represented the place he, his wife Vic and their children call home.
The message also gave Starmer an opportunity to reflect on his record in Holborn and St Pancras, where he has served as MP since 2015. He said he looked back with pride on what his constituency team had delivered, highlighting affordable housing, first-class education and tackling youth violence through the Camden Youth Safety Taskforce.
Thanks to Labour members
Starmer used the message to thank Labour members and his local party for backing him during his time as party leader.
“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.”
He also defended the record of his two years as Prime Minister, saying Labour had “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.”
The message echoes tributes already paid by Labour figures following the announcement. Former housing secretary Steve Reed said Starmer left Parliament “with his head held high and the country in a better state than he found it”, while former business secretary Peter Kyle said he had “led with grit, driven by a love of country”. Sadiq Khan and Jo Stevens were among others to publicly praise his service and his role in taking Labour back into government.
“I will remain part of our incredible Labour family”
Starmer made clear that stepping down from Parliament would not mean stepping away from Labour.
“Even as I stand down as being a member of Parliament, I will remain part of our incredible Labour family.”
He also pledged his full backing to Labour’s eventual candidate in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election and reiterated his support for Prime Minister Andy Burnham and the Labour Government.
“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.”
The message gives Labour members a more personal reflection on Starmer’s departure, combining pride in his record with a clear commitment to remain involved in the party he led back to power.
For Labour, his departure from Parliament marks the end of one chapter, but Starmer’s message suggests he intends to continue contributing to the party and public life in the years ahead.
