Keir Starmer announces he is standing down as MP

Former Prime Pinister Sir Keir Starmer has announced he is to stand down as an MP to focus on a role in international affairs.

The move will trigger a by-election in the London seat of Holborn and St Pancras, long a Labour stronghold, which he has represented since 2015.

Sir Keir, who left Downing Street in July, had previously said he would stay on as an MP until the next UK general election, which is not due until 2029.

But in a surprise statement hours before his successor Andy Burnham makes his debut in the House of Commons, he said he was resigning to work on issues such as international affairs and violence against women and girls.

Announcing his resignation, he told the Camden New Journal, external it had been a “huge honour and privilege” to represent the London constituency for 11 years, ending weeks of speculation about whether he would remain an MP.

He added he was ready to “pass the baton to a successor”, telling the newspaper it was the “right time” for him to leave Parliament.

He added: “I will now focus on other things and that will be international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world.

“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.”