Government decides on Keir Starmer’s possible appointment to job in Scarborough
The Government has made a decision on whether to appoint Keir Starmer to a job in Scarborough following his resignation from the House of Commons.
The former Prime Minister has said he will quit as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras, and The Press readers have reacted to the news that he could be appointed to a role in Scarborough.
Members of Parliament who wish to resign from the House of Commons are appointed Steward and Bailiffs of the Manor of Northstead in Scarborough, or of the Chiltern Hundreds.
On Tuesday evening (September 1), the Chancellor of the Exchequer “appointed Sir Keir Starmer to be Steward and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern”.
This means he will not be appointed Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead in Scarborough.
Under a Resolution of the House of March 2, 1624, Members of Parliament cannot directly resign their seat. Death, disqualification, and expulsion are the only means by which a Member’s seat may be vacated during the lifetime of a Parliament.
The appointment is a “legal fiction” that allows members of parliament to circumvent the rule forbidding MPs from resigning.
In July, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was made the Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead, Scarborough, following his decision to resign as an MP and fight to reclaim his seat.
Readers had their say in the comments section of The Press website and on Facebook.
Veruccajunction commented: “Farage did such a wonderful job that he’s a hard act to follow.”
Mulgrave joked: “Bit late in the season for hiring new deckchair attendants?”
The UK Parliament website states: “The Steward and Bailiffs of the Chiltern Hundreds and of the Manor of Northstead were positions traditionally paid for by the Crown.
“In modern times, they are unpaid, formal titles that are applied for when an MP needs to disqualify themselves from the Commons.”
Announcing his resignation in an interview with the Camden New Journal, Sir Keir, who has been an MP since 2015, said: “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, work on combating violence against women and girls.”
He added: “I think once you’ve been prime minister, it’s important to answer the question: what are you going to do next? Having decided I’m going to concentrate on international affairs, I think it’s right to step down.”