Keir Starmer WILL fight a Labour leadership election to dash Andy Burnham’s hopes of a ‘coronation’, claim PM’s allies
Britain faces the prospect of a bitter leadership battle in the Labor Party this summer as Keir Starmer’s allies insist he will run against Andy Burnham.
Labor MPs who support the Prime Minister said he ‘won’t go anywhere’ amid pressure to block Mr Burnham’s coronation to replace Sir Keir.
Mr Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, is currently standing as the Labor candidate in the Makerfield by-election in his bid to return to Westminster.
If he wins the contest on June 18, Mr Burnham is expected to go on and challenge Sir Keir for the Labor leadership in a bid to replace him in Downing Street.
Mr Burnham is said to be hoping for his coronation as Labour’s new leader, although he has said that under Labor Party rules Sir Keir could automatically enter the leadership vote if he wanted – with Wes Streeting among other hopefuls considering a leadership bid.
But Labor MPs backing Sir Keir said the “game is on” with Mr Burnham, promising the Prime Minister would “fight any challenge” and “has a strong chance of winning”.
Sir Keir recently signaled he would fight the mayor of Greater Manchester to remain as Labor leader and insisted he ‘won’t give up’.
The Prime Minister also warned against Labor being dragged into infighting amid the ongoing Middle East crisis and Ukraine war.
Britain faces the prospect of a bitter leadership battle in the Labor Party this summer as Keir Starmer’s allies insist he will run against Andy Burnham
Labor MPs who support the Prime Minister say he ‘won’t go anywhere’ in an effort to block Mr Burnham’s coronation to replace Sir Keir
Asked whether he would support Sir Keir in a leadership contest, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy told Sky News on Sunday: ‘I co-chaired Keir Starmer’s campaign to become Labor leader.
‘Less than two years ago it received a mandate from the British people. He is the toughest person I have ever met.
‘He spoke absolutely clearly; If there’s going to be a contest – and you need 81 signatures to start a contest – he’s going to be a part of that contest.
‘I think it is important for him to be able to fulfill his duty. I also went to Makerfield. I will be there again. ‘I’ve known Andy Burnham for 25 years.’
Asked whether he would tell Mr Burnham to focus on doing a good job and avoid the leadership race, Mr Lammy said: ‘Andy Burnham doesn’t need my advice, we talk quite regularly. He doesn’t need my advice. ‘I know him very well.’
Meanwhile, a Labor MP backing Sir Keir said: Sun on Sunday: ‘He’s not going anywhere, so let the game continue.
‘Andy and Wes are underestimating the mood. There is much more support for Keir in the PLP (Parliamentary Labor Party) than people think.
‘And the British people love the underdog. If they see a man being targeted and attacked, his mood can change very quickly.
‘And my members don’t like the way this leadership conversation is being played out in public.’
Another Labor MP said: ‘The Prime Minister still has huge support in parliament and the party. ‘He will fight against all kinds of difficulties.’
A third said: ‘It’s true that Keir Starmer will enter any potential leadership contest without even two years as Prime Minister and stands a good chance of winning.
‘Many Labor MPs, activists and members of the public have publicly expressed how appalled they are by Wes and Andy’s self-serving behavior in recent weeks.
‘They only discuss policies that no one voted for and they don’t make any sense. Clearly the country deserves better.’
Mr Burnham recently promised to cut business rates for pubs and other small businesses at a cost of £350 million if he succeeds Sir Keir as Prime Minister.
To fund his plans, the mayor of Greater Manchester said he would increase taxes on online tech giants and their warehouses in Britain, while also tackling tax evasion that is damaging the high street.
He attacked the Government for ‘misunderstanding’ small businesses in a direct challenge to Sir Keir and Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ management of the economy since they entered Downing Street at the 2024 general election.
Asked on Friday whether he was prepared to fight Mr Burnham to remain as Labor leader, Sir Keir told LBC: ‘I have said many times that I will not be leaving. We won the election victory in 2024 with a 5-year term.
‘We’ve only got two years of this and that’s why I’m not going to walk away from it. I’m very clear on this.
‘Andy has a lot of talent, of course he does. We’re fighting hard at Makerfield.’
Sir Keir also warned against ‘infighting within the Labor Party’ at a time when there is war in Ukraine and the Middle East.
‘The war in Ukraine continues, we have conflicts in the Middle East. Both of these need to be resolved, the Prime Minister added.
‘We are playing a leading role in this. We must take steps for the defense and security of our country.
‘These are the serious problems of our time… We live in the most dangerous and volatile world in our lifetime.
That’s why I truly and deeply believe that in 2024 we must continue the work we were elected to do.
‘This is about taking decisions that are priority decisions for our country, not being dragged into an internal fight within the Labor Party that would distract us from the work we were elected to do.’
