In Keir Starmer’s north London constituency, full of pretty pubs and elegant townhouses, few tears were being shed at the news of his departure as its MP.
One man nursing a pint outside a pub in Kentish Town simply remarked “good” when informed his MP had quit. He added: “I thought he was very nice before he became prime minister; I met him a few times. But he messed the country up and screwed over pensioners.”
Annie, a 30-year-old doctor having a coffee and pastry on a bench near the tube station, said: “I think everyone here wanted him to leave. He’s had a rough time of it, sure, but we have all had enough of him.”
Dominic Ford, a 75-year-old pensioner reading a book outside the Parakeet pub, was more sympathetic. “I think he’s sensible. It would have been tough for him to sit behind the new prime minister,” he said. “He’s a very nice, honest guy, and he was very visible around here. We used to see him going to the Arsenal with his son. He was a good local MP, and very honest. I felt very sorry for him when he resigned as prime minister.”
On a quiet street among rows of pastel-coloured terrace houses is the Pineapple, Starmer’s favourite pub. It is out of the way of the high street, and the former prime minister is frequently seen there drinking a pint.
He may have become tired of his pub visits being documented in various newspapers, because when the Guardian visited and asked regulars what they thought about him stepping down, the bar staff firmly said that questions about Starmer were not allowed. Perhaps this commitment to discretion is why he has referred to the pub as his “church” and “the best pub in land”.
Starmer announced his departure as prime minister in June after several unpopular choices including making Peter Mandelson, a friend of Jeffrey Epstein, ambassador to the US. On Tuesday, Starmer told the Camden New Journal he wanted to focus on international affairs and “pass the baton to a successor”.
Starmer had previously said he would seek to serve out his term as a backbench MP, and his decision to quit will spark a byelection. The Green party leader, Zack Polanski, is understood to be considering a run for the seat.
Laura Hyland, a 67-year-old artist, said she was pleased Starmer was stepping down and that she welcomed the prospect of a byelection. “He gave very little support for Palestine, and I hope Andy Burnham will be more supportive. Arresting people for holding signs saying ‘I support Palestine Action’ was disgraceful.”
Anita, 52, was doing her shopping on the high street. She also welcomed Starmer standing down, and said: “I can’t stand him. He was completely useless and I am glad he stood down.”
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The former prime ministers Rishi Sunak and Theresa May both committed to serving out a term as an MP for their constituencies after losing a general election.
Sunak is still representing his North Yorkshire constituency, now Richmond and Northallerton, two years after Starmer taunted him about whether he would be moving to California to work in tech. Lewis Galloway, 43, who works in marketing, said he would have liked to see the same from Starmer.
“It’s a shame that he’s standing down,” he said. “There was something nice about Theresa May and Rishi Sunak when they stood down and still worked for their constituents from the backbenches. It is a real shame to lose him from this form of public service so prematurely.”
