NEW Holborn and St Pancras MP Sir Keir Starmer today (Friday) swung behind Andy Burnham's campaign to become the next leader of the Labour Party.

He said: "We are lucky to have great candidates with different strengths, but I am backing Andy Burnham because he has extensive parliamentary experience and an ability to keep the party united while we debate our future purpose and vision."

Mr Starmer had himself been urged to take the radical step of standing in the leadership contest despite only having been elected as an MP for the first time last month. The former director of public prosecutions, however, said the vacancy left by Ed Miliband's post-election resignation needed to be filled by somebody with more political experience.

Hampstead and Kilburn MP Tulip Siddiq has already said she will support former Islington councillor Mary Creagh to 'widen the debate', while Camden Council leader Sarah Hayward is backing Liz Kendall.

Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn and Yvette Cooper are running. The party will announce its new leader in September.