Former British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Tuesday (September 1) his resignation as a Member of Parliament for the Holborn and St Pancras constituency, triggering a by-election in the London area.
Starmer published a statement on the X website on Tuesday, stating that he believes it is now the “appropriate time” to step down and focus on international affairs.
“In the entirety of this summer, I have had the time to reflect and contemplate on my future. I have decided that now is the right time to resign as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras and to pass the baton onto my successor,” he said.
He expressed that it has been a “great honor” to represent the constituency for the past 11 years. “In the current rapidly changing world, I will now focus on other matters, including international affairs such as defense, security, trade, and technology.”
Starmer also mentioned his ongoing commitment to combating violence against women and girls, emphasizing that this work had begun before he became a Member of Parliament and that he is keen to continue the effort even after stepping down.
Starmer resigned from the position of Prime Minister in June, and was succeeded by Andy Burnham.
Previously, shortly after stepping down as Prime Minister, Starmer had stated in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that he would continue serving as a Member of Parliament until the next general election. However, he has now decided to resign from that position early.
The Guardian analyzed on Tuesday that Starmer’s resignation from his constituency in London will trigger a by-election, with Green Party leader Zack Polanski being considered as a potential candidate. A Green Party spokesperson also mentioned that Polanski has long aspired to become a Member of Parliament in London.
The Labour Party constituency office stated that they have been informed and will initiate the selection process for a by-election candidate, but at this stage, they will not publicly support any specific candidate as a successor.