Burnham team urges ministers to delay resignations to avoid chaos
Andy Burnham's campaign has been forced to talk ministers out of resigning immediately to prevent a government collapse after Keir Starmer's devastating byelection defeat in Makerfield.
According to The Guardian, Andy Burnham's campaign team is actively persuading ministers not to resign this weekend to avoid plunging Keir Starmer's government into chaos following the disastrous Makerfield byelection result.
As they prepare for a potential leadership change if Burnham beats Reform on Thursday, his team is increasingly concerned that a rapid collapse of Starmer's administration would cause further instability for the country. Senior campaign figures believe Starmer should be given time to set out a timetable for his departure, with Burnham not planning to launch an immediate challenge after the result.
However, some ministers are "trigger happy" and have already offered to quit, Burnham allies revealed. Several below cabinet level could resign in the coming days to pressure Starmer. "We're trying to hold that back. We can't have a Boris Johnson-style collapse," a senior campaign figure said.
The prime minister insists he will fight any challenge, believing he has a duty to the country, even though some of his closest allies predict the leadership crisis may reach a tipping point where he must stand down. Starmer's allies have discussed a "100m hurdles" strategy to throw obstacles in Burnham's way – such as the danger of losing the Manchester mayoralty, the fragile geopolitical situation, and potentially a job offer.
Burnham supporters expect senior cabinet ministers to tell the prime minister over the weekend to agree to a handover of power rather than fight a bitter contest. "We want to give Keir time and space to come to terms with the reality of his situation. Andy wants a managed transition," a close Burnham ally said.
Burnham met Wes Streeting, a putative leadership rival, in Makerfield on Monday, but aides denied any pact. The pair independently believe Starmer should be given time to reflect.
Starmer has said he expects to talk to Burnham "after the weekend". But close allies of the mayor warned that clinging on for more than a few weeks would trigger a contest. "If he digs in at Downing Street then we'll force him out," a senior campaign figure said.
At the G7 summit in Evian, Starmer indicated he would offer Burnham a cabinet job if he returned to Westminster, but Burnham's allies said he is not interested.
For now, Starmer appears determined to fight on, arguing he won a big mandate and has years until the next election. However, even his closest allies acknowledge he faces a very narrow path to survival.
