Lawyer who claimed Keir Starmer was ‘average’ named chief prosecutor

A lawyer who recently criticised Sir Keir Starmer has been named the country’s chief prosecutor.

Stephen Parkinson has been appointed the director of public prosecutions (DPP) and the head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the job held by Starmer before he was leader of the opposition.

Victoria Prentis KC, the attorney-general, announced on Thursday that Parkinson would take over as DPP when Max Hill KC stands down in October.

Sir Keir Starmer was DPP for five years until 2013

The 66-year-old will be the first solicitor and non-King’s Counsel to be DPP since the post was created in 1880.