Labour Westminster North MP Karen Buck [UK Parliament official portrait detail (CC BY 3.0)]

LABOUR leader Sir Keir Starmer has led the tributes to Karen Buck after the long-serving MP announced she will not be standing at the general election.

The Westminster North MP told her constituency party meeting she was calling it a day.

She has represented the constituency, formerly Regent’s Park and Kensington North, for 27 years since Tony Blair swept Labour to power in 1997, the last 13 years in opposition.

Ms Buck is yet to put out a public statement but is said to have cited the ill-health of her husband, Barrie Taylor, a popular and former long-serving Westminster councillor.

Sir Keir told Extra: “I am very grateful for Karen’s many years of public service, both in government and opposition.

“It has been an honour to have Karen serve as part of my front-bench team. Her combination of expertise and empathy are rare in politics and she brought an enormous amount to all the front-bench teams she served on. Karen will be missed by colleagues across the house but I wish her all the best for the future and look forward to seeing what she achieves next.”

From 1994 to 1997 Ms Buck and Mr Taylor had served together as councillors for Queen’s Park ward.

Extra readers will remember her columns on decent homes, the health service and for access to legal aid. She has voted in favour of the hunting ban and gay marriage, and – as a Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament supporter – against replacing Trident.

In November she rebelled against her party by voting in favour of calling for a Gaza ceasefire.

She served as a former parliamentary under secretary Department for Transport and several key panels and committees while in government.

Ms Buck was twice the shadow minister for work and pensions until 2023 and a shadow minister for education.

She stood as a member of parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights and chaired the all-party parliamentary group on Legal Aid.

Ms Buck was named Child Poverty Action Group’s “MP of the Year” in recognition of her work to alleviate conditions of young families living in poverty.

She was responsible for introducing the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, through a private member’s bill.

Westminster City Council leader Adam Hug said: “It is a deeply emotional time as we hear that our amazing MP, my dear friend Karen Buck, has taken the decision not to stand again at the next election. She has been a true champion for our local area, someone whose kindness and commitment to social justice is unparalleled.”

“Mother of the Commons” Harriet Harman said: “Karen Buck is the sort of person who gives politics and parliament a good name.

“Her every waking moment is dedicated to improving life for her constituents and the country. A selfless public servant, her intelligence and empathy are unmatched.”

The candidate for Cities of London and Westminster, Rachel Blake, said: “She is an outstanding MP, completely dedicated to representing her constituents, advocating for communities and campaigning tirelessly for decent homes.”

Westminster Labour stalwart Murad Qureshi said: “I was involved in her selection in 1997 for Regent’s Park & Kensington North as the youth officer at the CLP and we could not have foreseen her dedicated service for over 25 years for the north of the City of Westminster and beyond. Best wishes to her and her family and in particular Barrie Taylor.”

A statement from the Westminster Conservative group said: “Karen Buck has been a superb local MP who has always worked hard for people living in her constituency. We are very sad to hear that her husband Barrie, who was himself a hardworking Westminster councillor for many years, is ill. Our thoughts and best wishes to them both.”