Pressure mounts on Starmer to step aside for Burnham
Following Andy Burnham's decisive victory in the Makerfield by-election, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces growing calls from cabinet ministers and MPs to set a timetable for handing over power to avoid a divisive leadership contest.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under mounting pressure from cabinet ministers and Labour MPs to avoid a bruising leadership battle and instead set a timetable to hand power to Andy Burnham, who won a resounding majority in the Makerfield by-election on Thursday night. Starmer has pledged to fight for his job, but ministers loyal to him have urged him to outline plans to step down over the weekend.
A cabinet minister who had not previously told Starmer to go said his departure was now inevitable, citing collapsed poll numbers and a string of local election losses. To trigger a leadership challenge, at least 81 Labour MPs must formally back a candidate, but one MP suggested about 200 MPs would be willing to sign Burnham's nomination papers.
Starmer called cabinet members on Friday afternoon to reiterate his determination to continue. Transport secretary Heidi Alexander reportedly expressed concerns during the call. At least two ministers, Ed Miliband and Shabana Mahmood, have previously suggested Starmer should set out a departure timetable. Other ministers are expected to press him on whether contesting the leadership is wise.
One cabinet source said: "Everyone thinks it is over and everyone wants it to be a dignified, orderly exit." Burnham's allies are urging supporters of former health secretary Wes Streeting, who also intends to challenge Starmer, not to launch a competing bid and for the party to unite behind a single successor.
