Andy Burnham breaks silence as Labour civil war intensifies | Politics | News
Shabana Mahmood insisted conspiratorial Labor MPs must get behind Keir Starmer and stop trying to bring him down.
The Home Secretary has claimed the embattled leader “won’t go”, despite rival Andy Burnham allegedly eyeing a return to Westminster to pave the way for a future fight.
Greater Manchester Mayor Mr Burnham is set to stand in the upcoming by-elections, allies have claimed.
Strategists working for the Prime Minister’s arch-rival have drawn up a short list of potential target seats in the North West, including the Greater Manchester seat currently held by former Labor MP Andrew Gwynne.
But Mr Burnham broke his silence on Sunday morning, saying: “There is so much nonsense in the papers today. It reminds me of why I left Westminster.”
While admitting that “everyone” is thinking about the most important job, Home Secretary Ms Mahmood told the BBC program with Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday: “Keir Starmer is not going.”
When asked again, he said: “Everyone has thought about it, of course they have, but it is not the same as conspiring to overthrow a Prime Minister for God’s sake.
“The Prime Minister continues to do his job. I am a member of his government. I have a big job to do and that’s all I’m focused on.”
Ms Mahmood, who is also tipped as a future leadership candidate, said Labor’s senior figures should “focus on the day-to-day business” of serving the public.
Commenting on the growing discontent within the Labor Party, the Home Secretary said: “I think all of us in government and in the Labor Party have a responsibility to focus on the day-to-day business and serve the British people.
“I was on your show a few weeks ago and emphasized that every minute you spend in government is precious, that it is a great privilege and honor to be the government of your country and we should not waste even a second of it.
“So it’s actually the responsibility of the whole government, the whole parliamentary Labor Party and the whole Labor movement to make sure that we don’t waste even one second of the time we have in government.”
He told Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: “Labour governments don’t come very often and every minute we have in government is precious.
“It is a privilege to be in government. I am focused on the great job I have as Home Secretary and my advice to all my colleagues around the world is that it is a precious privilege and we should not waste even a minute of it.”
“We have a big agenda. We have to keep delivering.”
Asked if that message applied to Labor mayors, he said: “No matter where you are in the Labor Party, we all have a part to play in supporting a Labor Government to serve the people of this country.”
Many in Westminster believe Sir Keir will face a sustained leadership challenge after local elections in May.
Labour’s popularity has fallen since taking office, with critics slamming their record on the economy, benefits, immigration and a series of damaging scandals.
On Saturday, a Labor MP who supports Mr Burnham said: “This is happening. He is likely to be released shortly and we are on the verge of winning a seat where the polls say Andy will beat Reform.”
Health Minister Wes Streeting was also accused of undermining the Prime Minister by criticizing the Government’s “technocratic approach”, which he likened to a “maintenance department” in an interview with the New Statesman magazine last week.
Meanwhile, Ms Rayner is understood to be in regular contact with Mr Burnham’s team and predicts colleagues will form a joint list with her if she becomes an MP.
He also supports a growing rebellion against Labour’s plans to cut jury trials; Nigel Farage fears Reform UK will ‘weaponize’ reforms against the government, his allies say.
