Former British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced his decision to step down as a member of parliament for Holborn and St Pancras, ending his 11-year representation of the constituency.
Starmer, who resigned as prime minister in June, said he decided to leave the House of Commons after reflecting on his future.
“I will now focus on other things and that will be international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world.”
He also said he would continue working to combat violence against women and girls, describing the issue as one that matters greatly to him.
Starmer’s announcement came hours before Andy Burnham, his successor, was due to deliver his first statement in the Commons as prime minister.
The former prime minister had previously indicated that he would remain an MP until the next general election, scheduled for 2029. His decision to leave Parliament early will now trigger a by-election in Holborn and St Pancras.
Former British prime ministers have often remained in Parliament after leaving Downing Street. Rishi Sunak remains MP for Richmond and Northallerton, while Liz Truss stayed in the Commons until losing her seat to Labour in the 2024 election.
Former Prime Minister Theresa May also remained an MP for five years after leaving Downing Street. However, Boris Johnson and David Cameron both resigned from Parliament shortly after leaving the premiership.
Source: Statement by Keir Starmer.
