Keir Starmer has been the MP for Holborn and St Pancras for eleven years (Reuters)
Former UK prime minister and Labour Party leader Keir Starmer is set to step down as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras after 11 years, bringing an end to his parliamentary career in the constituency. Starmer, who became the constituency’s MP in 2015, defended his record during his time in Parliament and highlighted several initiatives he said had benefited local residents. Starmer entered Parliament after succeeding longtime Labour MP Frank Dobson, who had represented the constituency for 35 years. He later served in Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet before becoming Labour leader in 2020. Under Starmer, Labour secured a landslide victory at the 2024 general election, returning the party to government after 14 years in opposition.
Starmer said he had reflected on his future after leaving Downing Street at the end of July and believed it was the “right time” to leave Parliament and “pass the baton to a successor”. “I’m proud of what we delivered,” Starmer said, crediting the local Labour organisation and his constituency staff for supporting him throughout his political career. He said he would not publicly endorse a candidate to succeed him, following the example of Dobson, but would support whoever is eventually selected by the constituency Labour Party. “The Constituency Labour Party has got many, many fantastic people and there will be no shortage of first class candidates,” Starmer said.