Keir Starmer announces resignation as Member of Parliament
Starmer said he will leave his parliamentary seat to concentrate on defence, security, trade and technology in a rapidly changing world.
Former UK prime minister Keir Starmer announced on Tuesday that he will resign his seat as a Member of Parliament, saying he intends to shift his attention away from domestic politics.
Starmer signals new focus on international affairs
"I will now focus on other matters, which are international issues, including defence, security, trade and technology in a rapidly changing world," Starmer said, characterising the next stage of his public life as centered on global questions.
Starmer stepped down as prime minister in June after serving for less than two years at the head of the government. He had led the Labour Party into power in 2024 with the largest parliamentary majority in modern British history, but over time lost support among voters and some party colleagues.
In July he was replaced as prime minister by Andy Burnham, who became the seventh person to hold the office in the United Kingdom this decade. The succession left Starmer free to reconsider his role in national politics.
Starmer's decision to vacate his parliamentary seat will trigger questions about who will contest the constituency and how Labour will manage the transition, though he did not give a timetable for when his resignation as an MP will take effect.
The announcement marks a clear break from frontline Westminster politics and signals Starmer's intention to pursue work on defence, security, trade and technology on an international stage.
Photo: press material from the event
