Andy Burnham speech latest: PM to face Commons grilling for first time as he sets out ‘positive’ vision for UK

Kemi Badenoch said Sir Keir Starmer’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.”

The UK has “no doubt” over its position on the Falkland Islands, the government has said.

Following a question by Foreign Affairs committee chair Emily Thornberry, Uma Kumaran said: “The UK has no doubt about its sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. They are and will always remain a British Overseas Territory in line with the wishes of the Falkland Islanders.”

She added she had seen Donald Trump’s comments but that the government’s position “remains unchanged”.

Nigel Farage has been re-sworn in as an MP this afternoon ahead of planned Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office questions.

Mr Farage triggered a by-election when he resigned from his Clacton seat earlier this year over scrutiny over his finances. He was re-elected at the end of August.

Former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has resigned as an MP, stating he felt it was the “right time” to step down and concentrate on work in international affairs.

Andy Burnham replaced Sir Keir as prime minister and Labour leader in July after poor local election results cost him party support.

Sir Keir confirmed his departure from his Holborn and St Pancras constituency to the Camden New Journal.

You can read his statement in full below:

Count Binface has hinted he could run in a by-election in Holborn and St Pancras after Sir Keir Starmer announced he will step down as MP.

Minutes after news broke of Sir Keir’s exit from the House of Commons, the self-styled “intergalactic space warrior” took to social media where he posted “Can’t get a moment’s peace on this bloody planet” in apparent response to news of the incoming by-election.

It would be the novelty candidate’s third by-election of the year after he made waves in the Clacton-on-Sea standoff against Nigel Farage where he stole 26.9 per cent of the vote from the Reform UK leader.

He also stood against Andy Burnham in Makerfield in June, where he gained just 95 votes in the landslide victory for the current prime minister.