Sir Keir Starmer has announced he will stand down as MP for Holborn and St Pancras, the North London seat he has held for 11 years, triggering a by-election. He told his local newspaper that it was the 'right time' to leave the Commons, six weeks after resigning as prime minister in June. He said he intends to focus on international affairs. The Green Party, whose leader Zack Polanski has reportedly long wanted to become a London MP, is seen as a strong contender for the seat in what was previously considered safe Labour territory. Starmer led Labour to a landslide general election victory in 2024 before standing down less than two years into his premiership after dismal local election results and mounting pressure from his own parliamentary party; Andy Burnham succeeded him as PM in July.