Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to stand down as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras will trigger a by-election in the London constituency, just weeks after he left Downing Street.
The former prime minister had previously indicated that he intended to remain in the Commons until the next general election. His decision to leave Parliament after 11 years has therefore prompted questions over whether he was right to force a contest in a seat Labour has held for decades.
There is also the prospect of a significant challenge from the Green Party. Its leader, Zack Polanski, is understood to be considering standing in Holborn and St Pancras, having previously identified the north London seat as a possible route into the Commons.
Mr Polanski, who is a member of the London Assembly, said earlier this year that he wanted to become a London MP and listed Holborn and St Pancras among the constituencies he could contest. A Green Party spokesman has since declined to rule out his candidacy.
Sir Keir announced his decision through the Camden New Journal, telling the paper that he had reflected on his future since leaving Downing Street and believed it was time to “pass the baton to a successor”.
He said he would now concentrate on international affairs, including defence, security, trade and technology, while continuing his work on combating violence against women and girls.
The former Labour leader said it had been a “huge honour and privilege” to represent Holborn and St Pancras, which he has held since 2015 after succeeding former cabinet minister Frank Dobson.
The by-election is expected to be closely watched as an early test of Labour’s ability to retain support in a traditionally strong metropolitan seat, with the Greens seeking to build on their recent progress in London.
Voters are now being asked whether Sir Keir was right to stand down as an MP and trigger the contest, which could give the Greens their opportunity to win the seat.
