Prime Minister Keir Starmer has defiantly rejected calls to set out a timetable for his departure, as rival Labour figures openly jostle to replace him. Speaking during a visit to a cafe in north-west London, Starmer insisted he intends to fight the next election and will not walk away, even if potential challenger Andy Burnham wins a route back to Parliament in a pivotal by-election.
Starmer's leadership is under intense scrutiny following a disastrous week in which dozens of his own MPs called for him to quit, compounded by Labour's poor performance in local elections. Despite the pressure, he stated: “I do want to fight the next election. Obviously, I recognise that after the local election results … the first task is turning things around.” When asked if he would step aside for Burnham, he replied: “I’m not going to do that.”
Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester Mayor, is seeking to return to Westminster via the Makerfield by-election next month, after Josh Simons resigned as MP to clear his path. Burnham is expected to mount a leadership challenge if he wins the seat, but faces a tough contest against Reform UK. He launched a blistering attack on Starmer, saying Labour’s offer to voters had “simply not been good enough” and that a vote for him would be “a vote to change Labour”.
Meanwhile, former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who resigned with a scathing criticism of Starmer, has also signalled a leadership bid. Streeting advocated for a new relationship with the EU, stating: “Britain's future lies with Europe, and one day, one day, back in the European Union.” This puts him at odds with Burnham, who is trying to win in Brexit-backing Makerfield and has toned down his previous pro-EU stance.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy warned Labour MPs against prolonged infighting, cautioning that “ten weeks of this we'll be in desperate trouble and all we'll be ushering in is Farage.” He urged colleagues to stop the “sixth form debate” about Britain’s future, describing the internal warfare as “lighting the match and standing in the petrol”.
