Labour ‘sh**show’ as MPs push Keir Starmer to ‘anoint’ Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham as his successor in bid to survive local election slaughter
Keir Starmer faces huge pressure to nominate Andy Burnham as his successor as Labor prepares for a coup in the local elections.
The mood among MPs and the Cabinet appears to be turning against the Prime Minister as he tries to shake off the Mandelson scandal.
Many expect a crisis point when English council results and Scottish and Welsh Parliament votes are announced in two weeks.
The Greens could swoop into London as reform is set to make big gains in Labour’s old heartlands. However, party insiders fear that the situation has already turned into a ‘shit show’.
Sir Keir has so far been buoyed by the fact that none of his potential successors are prepared to run; This includes Angela Rayner, who is still fighting with HMRC over unpaid stamp duty.
But despite vowing to continue fighting, speculation is mounting that the crush at the polls could force Sir Keir to set a timetable for his departure.
Keir Starmer has so far been boosted by the fact that none of his potential successors are ready to run, including Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham (pictured with Sir Keir earlier this month)
Mr Burnham was blocked from standing as a candidate in February’s Gorton & Denton by-election by Labour’s ruling NEC. Sir Keir’s allies have argued that he would have to stand down as mayor of Manchester, increasing the risk of being won over by Reformation.
However, in the Parliamentary race, the Greens prevailed, overturning a large majority.
Former Cabinet minister Mr Burnham has indicated he is still keen to return to the House of Commons.
He was seen meeting Ms Rayner, sparking rumors of a ‘dream ticket’ arrangement and he is expected to campaign for local elections in London.
Sources brief the Guardian that allowing Mr Burnham to return could be the price of Sir Keir’s survival this summer.
‘This has changed in the last few months; MPs rallied around Burnham in a way they hadn’t before. They also don’t want to do what the Conservatives did with Boris and make a disorderly transition to another insider. A source told the newspaper that they are ready to extend this until Burnham returns.
‘It’s either Andy or a fiasco,’ said a centrist MP. ‘Nothing else works. Nobody else can win. It’s all too early before we find a way.’
But other senior Labor figures have expressed concern about pinning hopes on Mr Burnham when he is not even currently in the House of Commons.
Ministers are doubtful Mr Burnham could win a seat even if he were allowed to stand in the by-election.
“This is a real shit show,” a source told the Daily Mail.
One minister said: ‘He is not the solution to Labour’s problems. And as Gorton and Denton show, there is no way back for him. There is no safe seat we can win from.’
Another Labor veteran said of Mr Burnham: ‘I mean, he’s got nice eyelashes. But this annoying sound will be from the frying pan into the Northern fire.’
Signs of unrest are growing in the Cabinet, with ministers offering only lukewarm support publicly and privately criticizing the decision to sack Foreign Office mandarin Olly Robbins.
Even Sir Keir’s staunchest supporters were appalled by his performance amid the latest outrage over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador
The Conservatives are preparing a proposal to launch a privileges committee inquiry into whether the Prime Minister misled Parliament about vetting Mandelson.
Even Sir Keir’s staunchest supporters were appalled by his performance amid the latest furore.
The prime minister, who appeared before broadcasters during his visit to Newcastle yesterday, did not answer “yes” when asked whether the Cabinet was behind him. When asked if he was considering resigning, he did not answer ‘no’.
“That’s just Keir,” a Labor source shrugged gloomily.
