Former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced he will step down as an MP, triggering a by-election in his north London seat.
Starmer, who resigned as PM in July amid mounting criticism of his leadership, told his local newspaper the Camden New Journal it was time to ‘pass the baton to a successor’.
He said: ‘I will now focus on other things and that will be international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world.
‘I will also continue, as I have done for a long time now with others, work on combating violence against women and girls; that is an issue that matters to me hugely. 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.’
A spokesperson for Starmer previously said he would serve out the remainder of his term as an MP for Holborn and St Pancras, when he announced in June his plans to step down.
Conservative party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said it was ‘fitting that his final act as a Member of Parliament is yet another U-turn’.
He added: ‘The decision to stand down will mean a costly by-election for taxpayers at a time when Andy Burnham and John Healey are plotting tax rises on hardworking families across the country.’
It will be the sixth UK Parliamentary by-election to take place this year, with every one so far having been won by a different party.
The Green Party won their first ever Westminster by-election in the previous Labour seat of Gorton and Denton in February, while the Conservatives beat the SNP in Aberdeen South in June.
Starmer’s successor as PM Andy Burnham won in Makerfield, Reform leader Nigel Farage held onto his Clacton seat, and the SNP retained the Arbroath and Broughty Ferry constituency.
Previously, Green Party leader Zack Polanski – who currently sits on the London Assembly – has previously expressed interest in Starmer’s seat, though he tied it directly to running against the then-PM.
Speaking to the BBC last year, he said: ‘It would be very tempting to take Keir Starmer down.’
A spokesperson for the Green Party hinted Polanski could seize the opportunity, saying: ‘Zack has always made it clear he would like to be a London MP. London has been his home for over 20 years.’
Meanwhile, novelty candidate Count Binface has hinted he might have a swing at the seat after winning more than 9,400 votes against Nigel Farage in Clacton last month.
He wrote on Bluesky: ‘Can’t get a moment’s peace on this bloody planet.’
Starmer won a majority of more than 11,500 at the 2024 general election, with independent activist Andrew Feinstein coming in second and the Green Party in third.
That was significantly cut from the 27,763 majority Starmer commanded in the 2019 general election.
Labour lost 17 seats on Camden Borough Council at May’s local elections while remaining in overall control with 30 seats.
The Green Party gained 10 for a total of 11 and the Liberal Democrats added six to reach 10 seats.
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