Frank Dobson: ‘Sir Keir Starmer will be a fine minister in new Labour government’

Frank Dobson. Picture: Getty Images/Chris Jackson. (Image: 2014 Getty Images)

Sir Keir, 52, who served as head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) between 2008 and 2013, beat off competition from four other candidates vying to stand as Mr Dobson’s replacement on Saturday.

The human rights lawyer won a large majority of votes from Holborn and St Pancras Labour members during Saturday’s hustings at St Pancras Church, in Euston.

He claimed victory over former Camden Council leader Raj Chada, current leader Cllr Sarah Hayward, NHS consultant Dr Patrick French and West Hampstead councillor Angela Pober.

The selection race was triggered by Mr Dobson’s announcement in July that he will stand down at May’s general election after 36 years as Holborn and St Pancras MP.

Sir Keir, who lives in Kentish Town with his wife and two children, will now battle to become the constituency’s next MP with Conservative candidate Will Blair, Liberal Democrat Jill Fraser and Green Party leader Natalie Bennett.

He said: “It’s a huge privilege and honour to represent Holborn and St Pancras so the stakes were high, it’s a great relief.

“I’m now totally focussed on the election and making sure the constituency Labour Party move forward in a strong and united way.”

Mr Dobson, 74, announced the winner of the selection contest on Saturday and praised a “quite remarkable shortlist of people”.

He told the Ham&High: “They would have made an excellent team so I hope they’ll be working together with Keir to secure his leadership.

“He’s extremely talented. In his time as DPP, he brought about a lot of changes and improvements in the approach to women and children and assisted suicide. The CPS was in good nick when he left.

“He is someone who will be committed to looking after people locally and committed to the underdog. He will make a fine minister as part of the forthcoming Labour government.”