Mike Hill has stood down as an MP for Hartlepool with immediate effect 16 March 2021 • 1:51pm Mike Hill resigned on Tuesday following a meeting with the Labour Chief Whip Credit: Richard Townshend Photography Sir Keir Starmer is set to face the first test of his leadership at the polls in May, after a Red Wall MP stood down on Tuesday following sexual harassment allegations. Mike Hill, the Labour MP for Hartlepool, resigned his seat weeks before an employment tribunal is to hear sexual harassment and victimisation allegations against him. His departure will trigger a by-election in one of the Labour Party’s most vulnerable seats, which Mr Hill retained with a significantly reduced vote share at the 2019 election after the chairman of the Brexit Party stood against him.