Keir Starmer, the former director of public prosecutions who was recently elected a Labour MP, appeared to rule himself out as a candidate for the party leadership on Sunday, disappointing campaigners who have sought to persuade him to stand.
Starmer, who was elected as MP for Holborn and St Pancras on 7 May, had been the subject of an online campaign to stand launched by a group of Labour activists disappointed at the current leadership contenders.
But the former barrister, who has been tipped as a potential leader, said he believed he lacked experience.
He tweeted: “V flattered by #keirforleader initiative and thanks for so many supportive messages but Labour needs s/one with more political experience.”
V flattered by #keirforleader initiative and thanks for so many supportive messages but Labour needs s/one with more political experience.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) May 17, 2015
On Thursday night campaigners had set up a Facebook page called Sir Keir Starmer QC KCB for Labour leader, which by Sunday had 1,275 members. They also launched a Twitter campaign with the hashtag #keirforleader to encourage senior figures in the party to back any bid.
So far, four Labour frontbenchers are running for leadership. Those who have declared are the shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, the shadow health secretary, Andy Burnham, shadow health minister Liz Kendall, and the shadow international development secretary, Mary Creagh. The shadow education secretary, Tristram Hunt, not yet a candidate, is also tipped as a possible contender.
Chuka Umunna, the shadow business secretary, withdrew his bid on Friday.
Narice Bernard, a 44-year-old businessman from East Lothian, who described himself as a disenchanted Labour supporter, was one of the campaign founders, and said he was frustrated by the calibre of the candidates, who were all associated with Labour’s defeat. Starmer was “fresh, new and experienced” he said. Former City minister Lord Myners, who funded Gordon Brown’s leadership campaign, told LBC radio Starmer was an “extremely thoughtful person” and an “able communicator” who would “electrify the campaign”.
Starmer was elected to the former health secretary Frank Dobson’s old seat of Holborn and St Pancras on an increased Labour majority.
