Keir Starmer announces he is standing down as MP

Sir Keir Starmer has announced he is to stand down as MP for Holborn and St Pancras, a move that will trigger a by-election in the London seat.

In a statement to the Camden New Journal newspaper, he said it had been a "huge honour and privilege" to represent the constituency for 11 years but he would now turn his focus to "international affairs".

Sir Keir stood down as prime minister earlier in the summer, with Andy Burnham replacing him.

It follows weeks of speculation about whether Sir Keir would remain as MP following his resignation.

In a BBC interview shortly after stepping down as PM, Sir Keir said he would stay as an MP until the next general election, which must take place by 2029.

But in his statement , external released on Tuesday, Sir Keir said he was ready to "pass the baton to a successor".

He added: "I will now focus on other things and that will be international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world.

"I will also continue, as I have done for a long time now with others, to work on combating violence against women and girls; that is an issue that matters to me hugely.