Political Picture · immigration

Filed by Deacon Rift

Sir Keir Starmer has become the latest MP to formally resign his seat through the Chiltern Hundreds, a centuries-old parliamentary mechanism that allows MPs to step down by accepting a nominal Crown office. Because Members of Parliament cannot directly resign their seats, the procedure — which dates to the 18th century — requires the MP to apply for the office of Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds, a position that disqualifies the holder from sitting in the Commons. The arcane tradition, used by politicians from all parties when leaving Parliament, highlights the peculiar persistence of medieval administrative forms in modern British politics, and raises questions about whether such historical formalities should be modernised.