Starmer says Labour should not hold leadership contest when it should be fighting Greater Manchester mayoral byelection
Speaking to reporters at the G7 summit, Keir Starmer stated that it would be inappropriate for Labour to conduct a leadership challenge ahead of the anticipated election to replace Andy Burnham as mayor of Greater Manchester.
If Burnham wins the byelection tomorrow, as constituency polls indicate, he will resign his mayoral position, prompting an election likely scheduled for Thursday 30 July. Bev Craig, leader of Manchester city council, is expected to be Labour’s candidate. Although Burnham secured a decisive victory in the last mayoral election two years ago, he retains a personal popularity in the north-west that Craig currently lacks. Reform UK achieved significant success in the local elections in May, making the retention of the mayoralty a challenging prospect for Labour.
When questioned about a potential leadership challenge, Starmer said:
"First and foremost, I want Andy Burnham to win, and that’s why I’ve encouraged activists and members to go up there during the course of the campaign, and they’ll be up there tomorrow helping to get the vote out.
Then what happens is we’re immediately tipped into a Manchester mayoral contest byelection, one of the biggest byelections that we’ve ever fought, because of the scale of it.
And it’s really important to my mind that the whole of the Labour party and Labour movement focuses on that, which is the next most immediate task.
I don’t think there should be a challenge. I think history, particularly the last government, shows that that isn’t a successful way for a government to behave."
However, Starmer reiterated his intention to contest any leadership challenge if it arises.
"If there is a challenge, then I intend to fight.
I’m not going to walk away from that, and I’ve been clear and consistent about that."
Starmer says he will offer Burnham ‘big role’ - as Streeting signals leadership challenge next week if PM won’t quit
Keir Starmer remains in France attending the G7 summit, but as Margaret Thatcher experienced during a Paris trip in November 1990, acting as a statesman internationally does not shield a prime minister from domestic leadership challenges. A recent development indicates that Starmer faces an explicit threat of a leadership challenge next week if he does not agree to a timetable to resign following the upcoming Makerfield byelection.
This threat, previously implicit, was made explicit last night by Wes Streeting, the former health secretary intending to launch a leadership bid.
Streeting spent the day engaging with media after delivering a speech outlining his economic vision, which he terms "a new economic approach." During his morning speech event, he emphasized his desire for Starmer to step down voluntarily. Later, in an interview with Cathy Newman on , when asked what he would do if Starmer did not agree to set a departure timetable, Streeting stated:
"We can’t go on with this uncertainty. I think we will inevitably end up in a contest."
When Newman asked if he meant next week, Streeting replied:
"I’ve given you my answer."
Pressed further about whether a challenge would occur next week, Streeting confirmed:
"Yeah."
Later, during an interview with Victoria Derbyshire, Streeting gave a similar response. Asked about the timing of a challenge, he declined to specify exact days but affirmed that the situation could not continue indefinitely.
This morning, Starmer responded during an interview on with Beth Rigby, announcing he would offer Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor expected to win the Makerfield byelection, a cabinet position. Burnham, rather than Streeting, is considered the primary threat to Starmer’s leadership, as he enjoys significant support among Labour MPs and members.
Starmer said:
"Yes, I want him to have a big role in government.
Well, I’m sure I’ll talk to Andy after the weekend, of course I will. I’ve spoken to him many times in recent weeks. And when I came into politics in 2015, it was Andy Burnham’s team that I joined, and we worked very well together.
He’s a huge asset, he’s been a fantastic mayor in Manchester and if he comes back into parliament – I hope he wins in the byelection – he’ll be a fantastic asset for our party and for the country."
This offer is likely too late, as Burnham desires "a big role in government," but the position Starmer refers to is effectively the one Starmer currently holds.
Agenda for the day
Morning: Starmer is conducting interviews with UK journalists at the G7 summit, which will be broadcast and published throughout the morning.
9.15am: Heidi Alexander, the transport secretary, will provide evidence to the Commons transport committee.
9.30am: Pat McFadden, the work and pensions secretary, will give evidence to the Commons work and pensions committee.
9.45am: Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, will present evidence to the Commons education committee.
Noon: The deputy prime minister will take Prime Minister’s Questions on behalf of Starmer. The Conservative party has not yet announced who will substitute for Kemi Badenoch.
Afternoon: Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, will deliver a speech at a European Movement conference advocating for the UK to rejoin the single market. Richard Hermer, the attorney general, will also speak at the conference.
5pm: The Labour candidate is scheduled to address supporters in Makerfield on the eve of the byelection.
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