Former British PM announces exit from Parliament

Former UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced that he will step down as the Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras, triggering a by-election in the central London constituency, BBC reports.

In a statement, Starmer said it had been a “an honour and privilege” to represent the constituency for 11 years but that he was now ready to turn his attention to international affairs.

“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.

“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.”

“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.”

Starmer added that he was ready to “pass the baton to a successor.”

His announcement follows weeks of speculation over whether he would remain in Parliament after stepping down as prime minister earlier this summer, when Andy Burnham replaced him.

In a BBC interview shortly after leaving Downing Street, Starmer had said he intended to remain an MP until the next general election, which must be held by 2029.

The announcement comes just hours before Burnham is due to make his first statement in the House of Commons as prime minister, setting out his priorities and answering questions from MPs.

A date for the by-election will not be set until Starmer formally resigns his Commons seat.

Holborn and St Pancras has traditionally been a Labour stronghold, with Starmer securing a majority of more than 11,000 votes in the 2024 general election.

Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake accused Starmer of making “another U-turn having pledged to stay on”, resulting in what he described as a “costly by-election for taxpayers”.

It remains unclear what international affairs role Starmer may pursue. Global issues and diplomacy featured prominently during his tenure as prime minister.

In his departure interview in July, Starmer was asked whether he had another major political or international role ahead of him.

“I don't know is the honest answer to that,” he replied.

Starmer’s decision to leave Parliament shortly after stepping down as prime minister marks a departure from the recent pattern among former occupants of Downing Street. Rishi Sunak remains the Conservative MP for Richmond and Northallerton two years after leaving office, while his predecessor Liz Truss remained a backbencher until losing her seat to Labour in the 2024 election.

Theresa May also remained an MP for five years after leaving Downing Street.

Former prime ministers Boris Johnson and David Cameron, however, resigned from the Commons relatively soon after leaving office.

By Vafa Guliyeva