Is Keir Starmer still an MP and what will the former Prime Minister do now he’s resigned?

SIR KEIR STARMER has departed Downing Street, delivering his final speech as Prime Minister following his resignation. After leading the government through two event-filled years, the political landscape in Westminster has been turned on its head. Sir Keir continues to serve as a backbench Member of Parliament – his constituency is Holborn and St Pancras Credit: Alamy As the Labour Party transitions to new leadership, voters and constituents across the country are asking what comes next for the outgoing leader. Is Keir Starmer still an MP – where is his constituency? When a Prime Minister resigns from their executive role in government or steps down as leader of their political party, they do not lose their seat in the House of Commons. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Thank you! Sir Keir continues to serve as a backbench Member of Parliament. His constituency is Holborn and St Pancras in North London. Starmer has represented Holborn and St Pancras since May 2015, having defended the seat in subsequent general elections. Unless he chooses to resign his parliamentary seat, he remains the elected representative for the area, handling constituent work and voting on legislation. What could Keir Starmer do next? Sir Keir faces a choice that every former leader encounters upon leaving top office. He could remain in Parliament as an active backbencher, focusing on local casework or international foreign policy. Most read in The Sun But he could choose to retire from Parliament altogether to pursue private sector roles, legal practice, or international diplomatic work. Retiring as an MP would represent a major political gamble for the Labour Party. If Starmer resigns as an MP, it would trigger an immediate by-election in Holborn and St Pancras. Under the leadership of Zack Polanski, the Greens have gained significant ground across central London. Polanski’s party has actively targeted Labour’s traditional urban strongholds, squeezing support in key capital constituencies. Polanski has previously said it would be “tempting” to challenge Starmer for his parliamentary seat, hinting that he may run for Holborn and St Pancras if it were to become available. A by-election in Holborn and St Pancras would force Labour to defend a high-profile seat against a big-name candidate. Losing or suffering a heavy vote drop to Polanski’s Greens would deal a severe psychological blow to Labour’s momentum. Because of this threat, party strategists may encourage Starmer to hold onto his seat to avoid triggering a risky London by-election. What have other Prime Ministers done after leaving No10? Former Prime Ministers have taken very different paths after leaving Downing Street. Theresa May stayed on as the MP for Maidenhead for nearly five years after leaving No10, providing experience from the backbenches before retiring from Parliament in 2024. Rishi Sunak retained his constituency seat in Richmond and Northallerton, choosing to stay in the House of Commons as a backbencher. Boris Johnson briefly stayed on as MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip before stepping down from Parliament to pursue journalism, writing, and international speaking engagements. David Cameron stayed on as MP in 2016 before quickly resigning his seat, later making a return to frontline politics as Foreign Secretary under Rishi Sunak. Tony Blair stood down as MP upon leaving Downing Street in 2007 to take on high-profile international envoy and advisory roles. Comment now