Keir Starmer has announced that he will stand down as an MP.
The news of Starmer choosing to leave parliament was first revealed in a report by the CamdenNewJournal. The former prime minister told his local newspaper that he had decided to step down to focus on “international affairs” and that it was the “right time” to leave frontline politics.
Starmer confirmed his decision in a statement on social media.
In the statement, Starmer said he had spent the summer reflecting on his future and that he had decided to “hand the baton over to a successor”.
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He stated: “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.
“But it is now time to step aside and focus on other issues: international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast changing world. I will also continue working with others as I have done over many decades to tackle violence against women and girls.”
He added: “I want to thank my [Constituency Labour Party] 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 and two years as prime minister when we 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…
“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.”
Starmer has served as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras since the 2015 general election.
In the 2024 general election for Holborn and St Pancras, Starmer received 18,884 votes, representing 48.9% of the vote share. Independent candidate Andrew Feinstein came second with 7,312 votes (18.9%), while the Green Party candidate, David Stansell, secured 4,030 votes (10.4%). Starmer was duly elected with a majority of 11,572.
Starmer was elected as leader of the Labour Party and leader of the opposition in April 2020. Prior to entering politics, Starmer had a distinguished legal career as a human rights barrister and served as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) from 2008 to 2013. Starmer was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to law and criminal justice.
Starmer entered office as prime minister following the 2024 general election, which resulted in a spectacular landslide victory for the Labour Party and brought 14 years of Conservative government to a definitive end. Labour secured 411 seats and a commanding House of Commons majority of 174.
Starmer’s resignation as prime minister in June 2026 followed a period of immense political pressure precipitated by the May 2026 local elections and simultaneous elections to the devolved Scottish Parliament and Senedd Cymru. The results of the elections, which were confirmed from 8 to 9 May, sparked an intense political crisis as Labour MPs lined up to call on Starmer to step down/set out a timetable for his departure. In total, over 90 MPs called for Starmer to resign as prime minister.
Matters came to a head on 14 May 2026 when Wes Streeting resigned as secretary of state for health and social care and Josh Simons, a former minister, announced his intention to stand down from parliament. Simons’ resignation was designed to create a vacancy that Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, could exploit to return to parliament.
On 22 June 2026, Starmer announced his resignation as prime minister and Labour leader outside 10 Downing Street, becoming the sixth person to leave the office in 10 years.
Speaking on the steps of Downing Street, Starmer said that he had inherited a Labour Party that was “politically, financially and morally bankrupt” upon his election as leader in 2020. He described entering office as prime minister following the 2024 general election as “the proudest moment of my life.”
In an emotional peroration, reminiscent of Theresa May’s resignation as prime minister, Starmer said it had been an honour to serve the “country I love”. His voice cracked as he paid tribute to his wife, Victoria, and his sons.
Starmer stated: “When I leave the biggest job in the country, I shall spend more time on the most important job. Being the best husband I can to my fantastic wife, Vic, who has been a rock by my side, through good times and bad. And being the best dad I can to my beautiful children, who are my pride and my joy.”
Responding to Starmer’s decision to stand down as an MP, Kevin Hollinrake, the chair of the Conservative Party, said: “Whilst we have disagreed with almost all of Sir Keir Starmer’s decisions, I wish him and his family well for the future.
“It is fitting that his final act as a member of parliament is yet another u-turn having pledged to stay on.
“The decision to stand down will mean a costly by-election for taxpayers at a time when Andy Burnham are John Healey are plotting tax rises on hardworking families across the country.
“The Conservatives look forward to giving the people of Holborn and St Pancras a chance to vote for a stronger economy and a stronger country in the weeks ahead.”
