Keir Starmer ends 11-year parliamentary career after leaving No 10

Former British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced his resignation as Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras, ending his 11-year representation of the constituency.

Starmer, who stepped down as prime minister in June, said on Tuesday that he decided to leave the House of Commons after reflecting on his future and the direction he wanted to take.

“I will now focus on other things and that will be international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world,” Starmer said in a statement.

He added that he would continue his advocacy against violence targeting women and girls, describing the issue as one that remained particularly important to him.

“I will also continue, as I have done for a long time now with others, to work on combating violence against women and girls; that is an issue that matters to me hugely,” he said.

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Starmer’s decision comes just hours before his successor, Andy Burnham, is scheduled to make his first statement in the Commons as prime minister.

The former prime minister had previously indicated that he intended to remain in Parliament until the next general election, expected in 2029.

His resignation will now trigger a by-election in Holborn and St Pancras to elect a new representative for the constituency.

Starmer’s departure also marks a break with the tradition of several former British prime ministers who have continued serving as MPs after leaving Downing Street.

Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak remains the MP for Richmond and Northallerton, while Theresa May continued representing her constituency for five years after leaving office.

Liz Truss also remained in the Commons until she lost her seat to Labour at the 2024 general election.

However, Starmer’s decision follows the examples of former prime ministers Boris Johnson and David Cameron, both of whom resigned from Parliament relatively soon after leaving Downing Street.

Starmer became Labour leader in 2020 and served as prime minister before stepping down in June, bringing his parliamentary career as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras to an end.