Labour faces ‘humdinger’ battle with Greens in London by-election after Keir Starmer quits seatThe looming contest in Sir Keir Starmer’s north London constituency will present a major test of Andy Burnham’s leadership
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Michael Howie, Senior News Editor|Tom Place, News Reporter2 minutes ago
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Labour is facing a tough London by-election battle against an emboldened Green Party after Sir Keir Starmer announced he is quitting his Holborn & St Pancras seat.
The former Prime Minister revealed the move on Tuesday, saying he felt it was the “right time” to step down from the Commons and focus on new work on international affairs.
The looming contest in his north London constituency presents a major test of Andy Burnham’s leadership, with Green leader Zack Polanski poised to challenge Labour.
The poll will come just months after the Greens made historic gains in London at May’s local elections, seizing control of a string of councils at the expense of Labour.
Polling experts say the vote will be a major test of Mr Burnham’s leadership since he took over from Sir Keir in July.
Politics professor at the University of Manchester Robert Ford wrote on X: “The seat has exceptionally high shares of non-white voters (66 per cent), graduates (51 per cent) and young ppl (47 per cent aged 16-39) – all groups that have swung Lab to Green in recent years.
“This could be a humdinger of a by-election.”
The by-election could give Green Party leader Zack Polanski a path into the Commons PA Wire
A further twist could come in the shape of Andrew Feinstein, an independent who came closest to beating Sir Keir in Holborn and St Pancras in the last general election.
Hinting at a willingness to do a deal with the Greens to deny Labour victory, he wrote on X:
“We must ensure that all progressive forces in Holborn & St. Pancras unite in order to deliver an MP who represents us & will work for us.
“An MP who is the antithesis of everything that Starmer stands for.”
Sir Keir was replaced by Mr Burnham as prime minister and Labour leader in the summer after losing the support of his party in the wake of dire local election results.
He told the Camden New Journal: “It has been a huge honour and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country and to have taken over from Frank Dobson, who was such a great constituency MP and a member of the last Labour government.
“I will now focus on other things and that will be international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world.
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“I will also continue, as I have done for a long time now with others, 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.”
He has informed local Labour constituency party staff of his decision to exit Parliament after 11 years representing the north London seat.
Reflecting on his time as prime minister, Sir Keir again pointed to Labour’s 2024 election victory as a huge achievement as he thanked the Holborn & St Pancras Constituency Labour Party (CLP) for its support during his time as party leader.
Mr Burnham paid tribute to his predecessor as he spoke from the House of Commons despatch box as Prime Minister for the first time on Tuesday afternoon.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham making a statement to MPs in his first appearance in the House of Commons since becoming PMPA
He said: “(Sir Keir) has given this country a lifetime of public service, particularly for those fighting for justice.
“When (Sir Keir) delivered in this House on his promise to the Hillsborough families and everyone involved in the Hillsborough Law campaign, it was a moment I will never forget.”
He said Sir Keir’s leadership took the Labour Party from “one of its worst defeats” to one “its best victories”, adding that his predecessor had “created a platform to change this country for the better”.
“We will use it well and we wish his family the very best for the future,” the PM added.
The Tories, meanwhile, said that Sir Keir’s decision to step down marked “another U-turn”.
Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said: “Whilst we have disagreed with almost all of Sir Keir Starmer’s decisions, I wish him and his family well for the future.
“It is fitting that his final act as a Member of Parliament is yet another U-turn having pledged to stay on.
“The decision to stand down will mean a costly by-election for taxpayers at a time when Andy Burnham and John Healey are plotting tax rises on hardworking families across the country.
“The Conservatives look forward to giving the people of Holborn and St Pancras a chance to vote for a stronger economy and a stronger country in the weeks ahead.”
Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch PA
Kemi Badenoch said Sir Keir’s decision to stand down as an MP came as a surprise to her.
The Tory leader said on X: “Wishing Keir Starmer all the best for the future. I was surprised to hear he was standing down from Parliament.
“But I can understand why he would not want to spend time with the Labour MPs who treated him so badly after he won them their seats.”
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