High-flying lawyer Charles Richardson has withdrawn his interest in running for Parliament — for now.

Mr. Richardson, 34, had been expected to fight the Progressive Labour Party’s corner in Hamilton South which the UBP’s Maxwell Burgess, who is retiring, held last time around by more than 100 votes.

But on Friday he said the timing was wrong for him.

“I am not the type of person who wants to be an MP just to gratify my ego,” he said.

Mr. Richardson, who rehabilitated himself after being jailed for his part in a night-club shooting, said he had too much work already in dealing with clients from his growing criminal law practice.

“I probably would not have been able to do justice to the people of Bermuda and especially my constituents,” he said.

“It is not a game. If you are going to stand, you better be damn sure you are ready. If not, you are just taking up space without making any meaningful contribution. There is too much of that going on already.

“I hate people who pretend to have leadership qualities when they know they don’t. If you are not ready be honest and say, as I am saying now, you are not ready.”

He said he was still a young man and there was plenty of time to stand for Parliament later. Mr. Richardson, who had planned to appeal to disaffected young black voters in Hamilton South where he spent a lot of time growing up, said he will have more experience in a few years and should have more to offer then.

And he added that he was still willing to serve the PLP in other roles.