Former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced that he will step down as Labour MP for Holborn and St Pancras, bringing an end to 11 years representing the north London constituency and triggering a by-election.
Speaking to the Camden New Journal, Starmer said he had used the summer to reflect on his future after leaving Downing Street in July and had concluded that it was the right time to “pass the baton to a successor”.
He said:
“It has been a huge honour and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country and to have taken over from Frank Dobson, who was such a great constituency MP and a member of the last Labour government.”
Starmer said he would now focus on international affairs, including defence, security, trade and technology, while continuing his long-standing work to tackle violence against women and girls. That is work he started before entering Parliament, he said, and work he is keen to continue after leaving it.
He first entered Parliament in 2015, succeeding the late Labour MP Frank Dobson. Reflecting on his constituency record, he pointed to work on affordable housing, education and tackling youth violence and knife crime in Camden, as well as local gains including breakfast clubs, free school meals and the lifting of the two-child benefit cap.
He also paid tribute to his local Labour Party and constituency staff, saying the CLP had “always had my back” during his time as an MP, Labour leader and Prime Minister.
Starmer said he remained proud of taking Labour from its 2019 general election defeat to its historic landslide victory in 2024, as well as the record of his two years in Downing Street.
He resigned as Prime Minister and Labour leader on 20 July, when Andy Burnham succeeded him in Downing Street. In his final speech as Prime Minister, Starmer said he was confident Britain was “stronger and fairer” than it had been two years earlier, adding: “As I now pass the baton to Andy Burnham, I wish him every success. He has my full support.”
Full backing for Labour successor
Starmer made clear that he intends to support Labour strongly in the forthcoming Holborn and St Pancras by-election. Following Dobson’s example, he said he would not publicly endorse a candidate at this stage, but would then back whoever is selected.
“The Constituency Labour Party has got many, many fantastic people and there will be no shortage of first class candidates.”
The constituency has been represented by Labour continuously since its creation in 1983, first by Dobson and then by Starmer. Local Labour will now begin a selection process for what has traditionally been viewed as a safe seat.
His departure will create the first parliamentary by-election test for Burnham since becoming Prime Minister in July.
Starmer leaves Parliament having served as Labour leader for more than six years and having led the party back into government with a landslide general election victory in 2024.
His next chapter will see him turn his attention increasingly towards international affairs while continuing to campaign on violence against women and girls — but he made clear that his support for Labour and the Burnham Government will continue.
