Last updated: September 7, 2026

Following Keir Starmer's resignation from his seat in the House of Commons, attention has turned to the procedural quirk used to step down as an MP—and the political scramble to replace him. To resign, Starmer was appointed Steward and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern, invoking a parliamentary mechanism dating back centuries. The resulting upcoming by-election in Holborn and St Pancras has triggered a high-stakes local candidate battle, drawing significant interest from international observers and Canadians monitoring UK political stability.

The Story at a Glance

Under a parliamentary law dating back to 1624, Members of Parliament in the UK cannot simply resign from their positions. Instead, MPs who wish to leave office before the end of a Parliament must accept a paid or nominal post under the Crown, which legally disqualifies them from sitting in the House of Commons. Keir Starmer recently triggered this process by taking the appointment of Steward and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern, vacating his constituency of Holborn and St Pancras and setting off a contested local race to fill the seat.

How the Story Developed

The mechanism used by Starmer is an ancient legal workaround designed to navigate historical restrictions on MPs leaving office. Originally, 17th-century parliamentarians often took their seats reluctantly, prompting laws to prevent easy resignations. However, by 1751, MPs discovered that accepting a nominal Crown title created an immediate conflict of interest, forcing their disqualification from the Commons.

The standard titles used for this purpose are the Steward and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern and the Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead. These positions exist purely in name, carry no duties or salary, and are granted alternately when members seek to step down. Starmer joined a long list of former prime ministers, including Boris Johnson, who vacated their seats using this specific procedure after leaving office.

With the seat officially vacant, political parties began mobilizing for the upcoming by-election. Zack Polanski, the leader of the Greens in England and Wales, announced his intention to run for the Holborn and St Pancras nomination. However, his candidacy quickly ran into resistance from local representatives who favor a community-based candidate over national party leadership.

Key People and Details

The internal political conflict centers on the nomination process within the Green Party as they prepare to contest Labour's stronghold:

• Sir Keir Starmer: Former Prime Minister who officially vacated his parliamentary seat using the Chiltern Hundreds position.
• Zack Polanski: Leader of the Greens in England and Wales, currently residing in east London, who announced his campaign to run in the constituency.
• Hamza Chowdhury: A Green councillor on Camden council in north London, who launched a challenge against Polanski for the party nomination.
• Lorna Russell: Group leader for the Greens on Camden council, who is among six local councillors backing Chowdhury's bid.

Chowdhury voiced opposition on social media regarding Polanski's nomination, emphasizing his deep roots in the district:

I know Camden because I live it every day. I know the challenges facing our communities, our estates, our broken lifts, our unpicked bins, our unclean roads and endless housing register waiting list because these are the places I have grown up and continue to call home.

Reaction and Response

The contest highlights internal debates over local representation versus national leadership status. Chowdhury stated that Seven out of the 10 Green councillors on the Camden council oppose Polanski's selection, arguing that the area needs an MP with direct ties to the community rather than a prominent figure visiting primarily for campaign literature.

Despite the opposition from local council members, party sources indicate that local members overall remain broadly supportive of Polanski's bid. The selection vote by local party members later this week will determine whether national notoriety or local council support prevails.

What to Watch

The immediate focus turns to the internal selection process within the local Green Party branch. Key developments to monitor include:

• The outcome of the local Green Party selection vote occurring later this week.
• Formal by-election scheduling announcements for the Holborn and St Pancras constituency.
• Candidate selections from the Labour Party and other major political parties contesting the vacant seat.