Pressure continues to build on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as the number of MPs calling for him to quit has reached 100, marking around a quarter of Labour's 403 MPs. The surge follows Andy Burnham's decisive victory in the Makerfield by-election, which has emboldened backbenchers and party grandees to demand a leadership change.
Burnham's by-election victory fuels leadership calls
Andy Burnham stormed to victory in the Makerfield by-election, prompting renewed calls for Starmer to step down. Some MPs who had previously signed a statement rejecting a leadership election have now reversed their position. Former home secretary Alan Johnson told LBC his message to the Prime Minister would be: "It's over, Keir."
Starmer has repeatedly vowed to fight any leadership challenge, insisting he will not "walk away." However, he is understood to have spoken to several Cabinet ministers on Friday, some of whom reportedly advised him to set out a timetable for his departure. Some in Westminster believe a contest could begin as early as next week, but Burnham's allies favour a longer wait to prepare for government.
Transition timeline debated
Former transport secretary Louise Haigh, a Burnham supporter, said after his by-election victory: "We really hope that this can be a managed and orderly transition and Keir Starmer will reflect on the results, and Andy and Keir can meet in the coming days, and over the next week, and agree a path forward."
Burnham's camp wants Starmer to outline his plans in the coming days but would accept a timetable keeping him in No 10 until September. However, former deputy leader Baroness Harriet Harman urged the party to move faster, telling Sky News's Electoral Dysfunction podcast that ministers could not be left "in a state of paralysis all through the summer." She added: "There is a sense of collective movement from within Labour. I think it's going to happen – that Andy Burnham is going to become prime minister. Keir Starmer is going to be leaving office."
MPs shift allegiance
Jess Phillips, who quit as a minister last month, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme she was looking forward to Burnham arriving in Westminster on Monday and seeing prospective leadership candidates setting out their stall. The Birmingham Yardley MP said Burnham had "proved his hypothesis" that he could take on Reform UK by winning in Makerfield. She added: "He beat off Reform absolutely soundly in an area that absolutely should have been delivered to Reform and if anyone else had stood there, we would not be having this conversation now."
Peter Swallow, one of more than 100 MPs who signed a letter backing Starmer just last month, has withdrawn support. The Bracknell MP told Newsnight that "it is now the right time for the Prime Minister to resign and hand over to someone else" and said he would be "backing Andy."
Starmer urged to step aside
Alan Johnson told LBC the Prime Minister now has to step aside. He said: "I'd say it's over, Keir. And listen, he's a bright guy. He knows it's over. He will forever be in the history books as the man who turned us around, Labour, from the second-worst result in our history to the second best result in our history in one five-year period."
Labour peer Charlie Falconer said Starmer has "absolutely no authority" because "everybody assumes" Burnham is going to challenge him and win. He advised Starmer not to stand in a leadership contest and instead agree a handover, preferably before the parliamentary recess on July 16. "There should be an agreed transition process in which Andy and Keir cooperate as to when the handover should take place," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Starmer digs in
Despite the mounting pressure, Starmer appeared to be digging in, warning Labour staffers during a call on Friday lunchtime to avoid "plunging our party and our country into chaos by turning on each other and tearing apart our party and our movement." He has also amassed a campaign war chest to fight any leadership challenge with the backing of a group of private donors, as first reported by The Times. Fundraising has ramped up in the last two days with total pledges running into six figures, sources said.
Corbyn questions strategy
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told Sky News he did not understand Starmer's strategy. He said: "I don't understand what Keir Starmer's strategy is in this other than saying he's going to fight it, but not doing anything very obvious to fight it. I just wonder if we're not going to witness a coronation of Andy Burnham in a few days' time." The Islington North MP said it was "very strange" that there had been no policy debate so far.
Upcoming by-election
Starmer and his backers have stressed the need to focus on the by-election for the Greater Manchester mayoralty triggered by Burnham's election to Parliament. That by-election is scheduled for July 30, with Labour set to announce its candidate on June 26. The party is already pitching the contest as a two-horse race between Labour and Reform UK, but the Greens will look to build on their success in the Gorton and Denton by-election with a strong challenge of their own.
