Burnham-backing Labour MP asked if she would give her seat | UK | News
The Labor MP who backed Andy Burnham’s return to Westminster had an amusing response when asked if he would give up his seat for Mayor of Greater Manchester. It comes as pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, with several MPs calling for him to resign following Labour’s disastrous local election results last week.
Mr Burnham, who was blocked by Starmer from becoming the Labor candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-elections in February, was tipped to take control of the party by some, including the Prime Minister’s former aide Angela Rayner. Appearing on BBC Breakfast, Liverpool Wavertree MP Paula Barker called on Starmer to resign and said she would be “delighted” if Burnham returned to Westminster.
Ms. Barker said, “I would be very pleased if a seat was assigned for Andy Burnham,” while the interviewer said, “He needs a safe seat, would you give up your seat for him?” he asked. Ms. Barker answered “No” without hesitation, then the interviewer continued: “There’s an obvious answer, but you hope someone will do it.” Ms. Barker then nodded: “Yes.”
Earlier in the interview, the current Labor MP said Britain had “stopped listening to Keir and that’s the problem”. He added: “Instead of having a lot of chaos, if Keir sets out a very clear departure timetable so that we can have a dignified and respectful leadership contest, I hope that will reassure the public that we are not falling into the chaos that we saw under the previous Conservative government.”
IT follows former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner’s request Allowing Burnham to become an MP. This would open the door to a potential leadership challenge against Starmer.
Addressing the Communications Workers Union (CWU), he said: “As a party we must do better than this. And only by putting the common interest before factionalism can we prove that we understand our Labor values. And we can start by acknowledging that Andy Burnham should never have been blocked. It was a mistake that our party’s leadership must put right.”
Meanwhile, more than 50 Labor MPs called for Starmer to resign, with Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) Tom Rutland becoming the first member of the government to resign. Rutland wrote of X: “I am sorry to say that the prime minister must now set a timetable for his departure and the selection of a new leader to lead Labor and the country.”
Sally Jameson, PPS at the Home Office, told Sly News: “I’m sorry to say that I think the prime minister needs to set a clear timetable for his departure in September or shortly thereafter.”
