Keir Starmer stepping down as an MP

He soon found out that being PM and all it entails is vastly different to being Leader of the Opposition.

AB on Radio Manchester:

“25 September 2025
Andy Burnham has said he has "no intention of abandoning" his work as the mayor of Greater Manchester after speculation about a potential challenge for the Labour leadership”

… said whilst the plotting to oust KS was already in motion.

Apparently, it’s fine for AB to go back on his word but not KS.

Hypocrisy is a weird thing!

Casdon

I don’t agree M0nica, anybody who is demoted would be less motivated. You make it sound as though it’s a bad thing for an MP to be ambitious beyond looking after their own constituents, but surely anybody who wants a better country would stand a far better chance of achieving real change if they had more influence? An ex PM is a spent force.

We obviously mix with different people to me. Demotion is not necessarily demotivating. It depends on the circumstances. John Major stayed on as an MP for sometime after he was sacked by both party and voters - and without loss of stature in party or country.

I am not against ambition, but an MP's prime responsibility is to those who elected him - If he is sacked from the cabinet, whether prime Minister, or just a minister, he is still left with his prime responsibility to his constituents.

With Starmer we are faced with a situation for him which is lose/lose. Either he was lying when he said he would stay on as MP until the next election or he meant it at the time but has since received an offer he cannot refuse and sold his constituents for whatever he will be paid.

As for ex PMs being a spent force, Do not mistake their names being less in the papers as being a spent force. David Cameron certainly has been, reduced to mixing with dodgy Australian financiers to turn a penny, that and manage his significant inheritance, but he always struck me s being a real clever clogs, but not intelligent. On the other hand his partner in government, George Osbourne, also a clever clogs, but highly intelligent as well has done very well indeed.

On the Labour side. Tony Blair has done very well for himself since retiring. Gordon Brown would have also done as well, had he chosen to. But he was always the 'sea-green incoruptible', which was why he was not a successful Prime Minister, but he has since he was PM committed his time to Social issues on an international scale and won awards and plaudits worth more to him than all Blair's money.

We’re destined not to agree on this M0nica. John Major only stayed on until the next election after he lost the leadership, quite a few former PMs do that. I always feel sad for them that they feel obliged to do that - if they were happy as backbench MPs they would stay on longer, but I can’t think of any that have done that.

He may well have wanted to stay on as an MP but found it was not tenable

Oreo

Nice try Doodledog to make out Starmer was the best thing since sliced bread but the fact that his own MP’s wanted him gone says it all.
Starmer was useless once in power and it was there for all to see.

That’s not what I was doing. Did you read my post, or just react?

Sarnia

I'm not a Labour voter but I really felt for Sir Keir Starmer and the way he was treated. He brought Labour to power with a thumping majority but was still cast aside when things were not going well. If every PM was ousted when times are tough they will need to install a revolving door at No 10.
He seems a decent family man so I hope he finds a future where he is valued and doesn't have to inspect the back of his jacket to look for stab marks. Good luck for him.

It was the same for Boris. Landslide victory then stabbed in the back.

Well said doodledog @ 9.17

Iam64

He may well have wanted to stay on as an MP but found it was not tenable

Absolutely. As well, it’s a job, a very responsible job, but nevertheless a job. People in jobs are allowed to change their minds and to do something else.

I accept he was voted in by his constituency and whilst he’s a MP needs to do his best for them, and I’m sure that for the 11 years he was their MP that he did.

Now he feels he cannot, so surely the “right” thing to do is to resign and allow someone else the privilege of fulfilling this role?

So many people do this, you could argue the MP in Makerfield was letting down his voters?

Starmer clearly feels it’s time for a fresh start, for himself and his family, I wish him luck.

All MPs stand to be their party leader knowing that they’ll benefit from this, whatever their good intentions are at the time.

Meandrogrog 11:46am

I beg to differ.

Aside from the ridiculous expenses fiasco and his shilly-shelling around the WFP, I don’t recall Starmer illegally proroguing Parliament, excusing himself and his buddies for constantly breaking Covid rules, (yes I’m aware Starmer was accused of doing this on one occasion), I don’t recall Starmer giving contracts to his chums, for things which then proved useless, for example, “track & trace”, & and doctors and nurses protective equipment during Covid. He was also very slow at taking Covid seriously and didn’t attend COBRA meetings at the start. It really isn’t the same.

Yes Johnson allowed his chancellor to sort out funding for vaccine research, and rollout, and furlough. Sunak did a great here, Johnson took the credit. The vaccine rollout was due to our NHS and a massive raft of volunteers, Johnson took the credit.

It’s not the same in any sense.

Given the spiteful comment aimed at Starmer by the Speaker ( who I’ve always disliked anyway especially since he was downright rude to Caroline Lucas) it was untenable for him to remain in parliament. In fact I’m surprised that he lasted as long as he did; the welcome that Burnham got when he first re entered parliament said it all. As his biographer pointed out, he was never ‘one of them’. And in his opinion will not use his PM’ship to make money but to do good.

Cossy

Meandrogrog 11:46am

I beg to differ.

Aside from the ridiculous expenses fiasco and his shilly-shelling around the WFP, I don’t recall Starmer illegally proroguing Parliament, excusing himself and his buddies for constantly breaking Covid rules, (yes I’m aware Starmer was accused of doing this on one occasion), I don’t recall Starmer giving contracts to his chums, for things which then proved useless, for example, “track & trace”, & and doctors and nurses protective equipment during Covid. He was also very slow at taking Covid seriously and didn’t attend COBRA meetings at the start. It really isn’t the same.

Yes Johnson allowed his chancellor to sort out funding for vaccine research, and rollout, and furlough. Sunak did a great here, Johnson took the credit. The vaccine rollout was due to our NHS and a massive raft of volunteers, Johnson took the credit.

It’s not the same in any sense.

As far as I am concerned, Boris got us out of the EUSuccessfully, then made sure we got the Covid vaccinations.

He would not have spitefully imposed vat on private schools or brought in the Mansion tax.

IMO he was one of the best prime ministers we have ever had and it was a crying shame he was ousted.

I am fully allowed to have this opinion whatever others think.

Now, I’m definitely not an anti vacc’er; far from it. I have every vaccine going. But Johnson was not instrumental in getting the vaccine done. Nothing was stopping the UK from having the vaccine. The EU were a bit slower because I believe they negotiated a better price and I have reservations about the first vaccine that was used as it is no longer being used and I rather fear it was rushed through rather quickly. As for Brexit , it was toss of a coin for Johnson who had never been anti Europe in the past and got the fright of his life when he realised he would have to implement it. He threw out most of the good Conservative MP’s and pretty much destroyed the party (look where they are now).What good has he done since he left office other than making millions and fathering even more children.

Scribbles

So now it's confirmed: being an MP was all about personal ambition. Now he's no longer prime minister, he has no further interest in his constituents or in promoting their concerns within the governing party.
No, I'm not surprised. He was just another snout in the trough while it suited him.

Have you heard of Nigel Farage et al? He has never served his constituency since he first became MP in 2024! At least Starmer served his constituency for many years and served as PM.

Many politicians have personal ambition- Starmer is no different and not the worst..

Having said that I do not applaud Starmer's timing of his announcement thereby causing the cost and diversion of a by election, just as parliament returns from the summer recess, just before AB's first statement to HOC then next day first PMQs and party conference season looming.

I expected better of Starmer- he should have done it much sooner or waited a while.

In that case, meandrogrog I respectfully agree to disagree

Of course you’re entitled to both have and share your opinion.

Maybee I agree

Nanna8 where do you get that idea from? Europe?
He has worked and studied in the UK all of his life, vilified from the outset by the press and certain people on this forum as well.
He has stated he is going to concentrate on domestic violence issues, attacks on women and girls , looking at ways to deal with violent men, plus perhaps dealing with International affairs where he actually was a great mediator. Give the bloke a break for goodness sake!
I thought he was dull but he did steady the ship after 14 horrible years.

Johnson was a hopeless PM ! I cannot think of #nything he @chieved tbh

I expect he has a huge international job lined up. I consider him to be a clever, thoughtful lawyer who was an excellent DPP. He had proved that he is appreciated and effective on the international stage, one of the few to refuse to be bamboozled by the godawful Trump. He was very badly treated by Labour MPs, few of whom came out of the coup with any decency.

Quite right, Chardy. That is also my view about the former Director of Public Prosecutions.

Iam64

I’m pleased he’s made this decision, it’s another indication of his integrity.
I hope he gets involved in an international role. He could always return as a KC even become a Judge. Here’s hoping whatever he does is positive for him and his family

I quite agree, great chap, if a bit wooden for the public

Thought he was going back to prosticute the British army?

The boat numbers may be going down but the size of the boats has increased dramatically to carrying 250 persons. It is simply politicians' sleight of speech in order to dupe the public, as usual. Plus ça change....

Scribbles

So now it's confirmed: being an MP was all about personal ambition. Now he's no longer prime minister, he has no further interest in his constituents or in promoting their concerns within the governing party.
No, I'm not surprised. He was just another snout in the trough while it suited him.

My feeling exactly. Once the freebies dried up he went. I wonder how many of his Labour would leave if freebies were banned rather than just subject to declarations

The final U turn! Why are we not surprised! I expect an offer that he can't refuse has turned up so bye bye unimportant constituants.