We can’t wait for Burnham, Labour MPs say as race to replace Starmer comes down to Rayner vs Streeting

The battle to succeed Sir Keir Starmer is shaping up to be a two-horse race between Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting; Labor MPs admit they cannot wait for Andy Burnham to return to Westminster and launch a leadership challenge.

The former deputy prime minister and health minister has been among the favorites to become the next Labor leader for months, alongside the mayor of Greater Manchester, who remains the most popular choice for party membership.

But Mr Burnham will need to return to Westminster as an MP to mount a leadership challenge, prompting his allies to call for any race to replace Sir Keir to be delayed until he secures a seat in parliament; Labor had even been warned to expect “apocalyptic” local and devolved election results next week.

Only the left-wing Socialist Campaign MPs Group is committed to supporting it, but does not have the numbers to force the issue.

One MP noted: “We can’t wait for Andy. He may be the most unifying candidate, but he’s not here and there doesn’t seem to be a clear path for him to arrive anytime soon.”

Meanwhile, Independent He understands both Ms Rayner and Mr Streeting “have the numbers” of MPs to launch leadership bids and the pressure is expected to mount as the dire state of the party’s support becomes clear after next week’s election results.

Labor campaigns in London boroughs such as Barking and Dagenham, where the party had previously held undisputed control, and letterbox cases in Birmingham suggested the outcome could be “even worse than expected”.

Earlier this week pollster Lord Robert Hayward predicted Labor would lose more than 1,800 seats, and one Labor MP said: Independent: “It will be a curtain for the Prime Minister.”

Ms Rayner, who is still awaiting a decision from an HMRC investigation into her tax affairs, is believed to have greater support among Labor members than Mr Streeting, who is ideologically on the party’s right wing.

Already, an “everyone but Ange” briefing operation has begun to help Mr Streeting and prevent the left of the party from taking over.

A supporter of Ms Rayner said: “She definitely has the numbers to mount a challenge. She won’t stage a coup.” Leadership candidates must be nominated by 83 MPs.

While a source close to Ms Rayner pushed back on the idea that she was actively considering a leadership bid, they did not deny she would have to make a decision after the election; Sir Keir was also dangling in front of her an offer to return to the cabinet in a bid to ward off any threat to his position.

An ally of Ms Rayner said: “The ‘everyone but Ange’ briefing is a desperate attempt to get Wes in.”

Meanwhile, it seems that the support for other leadership candidates has decreased.

A bid to position energy minister Ed Miliband as a compromise candidate has been met with pushback from many Labor MPs.

“We can’t relive his leadership,” one of them said. “Starmer is more realistic as the next chancellor or Angela as chancellor,” another party source said.

Although Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has “supporters” including former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, she “will not be able to get out of the starting blocks” because she is considered “too right-wing” having alienated some MPs on the left of the party with her tough stance on immigration.

Whoever replaces Sir Keir, there is growing recognition among Labor MPs that a change of leadership may be necessary soon after next week’s local elections, with the prime minister’s authority expected to be at an all-time low.

While both the Greens and Reform UK are set to make huge gains from Labor across England, one minister admitted: “We’ve already written off Wales”.

Only in Scotland, where Scottish Labor leader Anas Sarwar has called on Starmer to resign, are there hopes of making “minor gains” due to the SNP’s relative unpopularity after 19 years running Holyrood.

Following the damage sustained in the Peter Mandelson scandal and the “loss of political capital” when Labor MPs were forced to vote to block an investigation into him, some MPs believe Sir Keir is “over”.

Ministers are also questioning whether he “has the political muscle” for a major reshuffle planned for days after the election as he seeks to reset his government.

“He may want to be saved [chancellor] Rachel [Reeves] But is he capable of doing this? If he keeps firing Wes [Streeting] will trigger an immediate leadership election,” said one.

Another suggested: “The ministry may have to reshuffle its positions and get rid of disparate organisations.” [tech secretary] It was Liz Kendall.”

But his allies believe Sir Keir still has a chance of clinging on to the leadership, largely due to the absence of a main rival.

One of them said: “It is very difficult to replace a leader and the rivalry between Angela and Wes will divide the party. It would be a disaster.”

Another said: “The Prime Minister will not give up easily.”