By-election in Keir Starmer’s old seat expected Oct. 8

LONDON — The by-election to replace Keir Starmer as a member of parliament is expected to take place on Oct. 8, two Labour Party officials told POLITICO. Voters in the central London constituency of Holborn and St Pancras will go to the polls next month to elect the ex-PM’s successor in what is likely to be a tense fight between the ruling Labour Party and insurgent Greens. On Monday, Labour moved a writ — the parliamentary procedure to trigger a by-election when a seat becomes vacant — and the two Labour Party officials quoted above, granted anonymity to discuss internal discussions, said it will pave the way for the Oct. 8 date. The former prime minister stood down from the House of Commons last week. He said he wants to devote more time to international affairs, despite previously pledging to remain an MP until the next general election. In 2024, Starmer held the seat with a 11,572 majority, but faced a strong challenge from a left-wing independent candidate and the Greens. Green Leader Leader Zack Polanski has put himself forward for the party’s nomination, arguing that under him “voters will have someone who will always fight their corner.” He is facing a challenge from Hamza Chowdhury, a councilor in the Camden Green ward, who said the constituency doesn’t need an MP who “makes a few promises and disappears once the votes are counted.” The party’s candidate will be announced on Sept. 11. The election is due to take place less than a week after the Green Party’s annual conference, which takes place in Brighton between Oct. 2 and Oct. 4. Labour’s annual conference takes place in Liverpool from Sept. 27 to Sept. 30. Labour will choose its candidate on Wednesday.