Having lived in Stoke I can hardly imagine a greater contrast - Stoke and the V&A. I don't think there would be any prizes for guessing which of the two he feels more at home with!
He's leaving to become head honcho at the V&A Museum. Rat leave sinking ship? Careerist letting his party down? Principled Labour man registering no confidence in Corbyn/direction of the party? I'm not sure how much a by-election costs but I'd be tempted to give him the bill.