Starmer’s pile-on begins as first minister tells PM tells PM to resign | Politics | News
A Cabinet member is understood to have told Kier Starmer to resign as Prime Minister following Andy Burnham’s by-election victory. Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander became the first Labor MP to do so. Burnham recently won the Makerfield by-election, prompting Alexander to tell the Prime Minister to step aside. He was one of the MPs who voted for Burnham to become leader of the Labor Party for the first time in 2010.
He also supported her when she ran for the position again in 2015. Despite calls to resign, Keir Starmer says he will fight to retain his position as Prime Minister. While Burnham is expected to mount a leadership battle for the top spot to lead the party, Starmer told the media he was not planning to “walk away” following Burnham’s victory. At his final rally before his Makerfield victory, Burnham told attendees that a new Labor leader could “make space for the real change that people in this constituency deserve”.
Nearly 45,000 people went to the polls in Thursday’s byelection, and the results were announced just after 3 a.m. on Friday.
Announcing his plans, Burnham called for a major change in Whitehall supply to support British businesses, as well as an end to “trickle-down the economy” and a new push to re-industrialize the North of England.
Mr Burnham adds that education should not be “dominated by the University route” and should instead focus on getting people into work.
Just weeks ago Josh Simons resigned his seat so Mr Burnham could run for Prime Minister. “I know you’re doing this for all the right reasons,” Burnham said.
He told reporters: “There’s no leadership race at the moment, there isn’t at the moment, but as I’ve said many times, I don’t think it’s a good thing for the country to lead us into chaos.
“I would also like to add that Andy has won, it’s really important, it’s really good, he’s a huge asset to us, now inevitably the Manchester mayoral by-election will start immediately.
“It’s important that we come together for this, but if there is a competition, let me be clear, then yes, I will run.”
