UK's Starmer mulls 'political realities' after Burnham by-election win
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reflecting on political realities after potential rival Andy Burnham won a by-election and a seat in the House of Commons. Starmer faces pressure as his and Labour's popularity has waned.
British Business Minister Peter Kyle on Sunday said that Keir Starmer was reflecting on the 'political realities' after Andy Burnham, a potential rival for the prime minister's post, won a by-election and a seat in the House of Commons on Thursday. Sitting in parliament would enable Burnham in theory to be prime minister or to trigger a hostile contest for the leadership of the Labour Party.
Starmer has faced increasing pressure as his and Labour's popularity has waned since his 2024 election win, particularly after a poor showing in local and regional elections last month. Kyle told both Sky and the BBC that he had no reason to believe Starmer was planning to announce his resignation on Monday, as The Observer had reported.
'Today, as in every other day I've ever known Keir, he is out there working hard,' Kyle told Sky News. 'At the same time, he is also trying to create the space where he can think and reflect on the political realities and challenges — and the opportunities — that are before us.'
Kyle acknowledged that at least some forces within the party were maneuvering against Starmer. 'I don't want to come on here and be delusional that there is no process, there are no forces at work which are challenging the prime minister as leader. That is clearly the case,' he said.
Labour's Andy Burnham won Thursday's Makerfield by-election with a fairly comfortable margin, delivering a rare bit of good news for the party. Burnham has run for the Labour leadership and lost in the past, but a stint as Manchester mayor boosted his profile. He has not disavowed his prime ministerial ambitions, but has also not taken obvious steps towards triggering a leadership challenge. Based on comments from his allies, he appears to be trying to encourage Starmer to resign of his own volition.
Senior Labour member of the House of Lords Charlie Falconer told the BBC that there 'should be an agreed transition process in which Andy and Keir cooperate as to when the handover should take place.'
