Keir Starmer has signalled he would offer Andy Burnham a position in his Cabinet if the Greater Manchester Mayor is re-elected as an MP in this week's Makerfield by-election. Mr Burnham, a former Labour minister, is vying to replace the Prime Minister if he wins Thursday's crucial contest. Some reports suggest he could mount a leadership challenge within hours of a victory, though other sources insist he wants to bide his time.
Starmer's Comments at G7 Summit
Speaking to reporters at the G7 summit in Evian, France, Mr Starmer described Mr Burnham as a "great asset" and expressed a desire for him to have a "big role in government." Pressed by Sky News on whether he would invite Mr Burnham into his top team after the weekend, the PM said: "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 by-election. He'll be a fantastic asset for our party and for the country."
Warnings and Leadership Speculation
The Prime Minister, who has insisted he would fight any leadership challenge, cautioned Mr Burnham against challenging him, warning that a mayoral election in Manchester would follow if he is re-elected as MP. He told Channel 4: "We then tip straight into the Manchester mayoralty by-election, because that's under a timeline, we start, we will, immediately, so we're all going to have to focus on that. But it is important for me to step back from this. I was elected to serve my country, I came into politics late in life for one reason, one reason only, which is to change the lives of millions of people." Mr Burnham has previously confirmed he would seek to enter a leadership contest if he wins in Makerfield.
Wes Streeting's Stance
Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting suggested he is prepared to trigger a Labour leadership challenge against Mr Starmer as early as next week. Speaking on BBC Newsnight, he said: "We'll see where we are then. I would prefer the Prime Minister to take a decision on his own terms - rather than leave it for me, or Andy [Burnham] or anyone else to trigger a contest." However, if Mr Starmer remains in No10, Mr Streeting added: "If not we can't carry on with this uncertainty and paralysis. There will need to be a contest, and I'd be prepared to do that."
Mr Streeting also claimed he has the support of 81 Labour MPs required to trigger a contest, but said he had not done so due to Thursday's by-election. He told reporters: "One of the inevitable [leadership] candidates is on the ballot paper. Had I tried to pull a fast one and get ahead of Andy Burnham before he came back, I think that would have been foul play."
Government Response
Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds declined to speculate on a potential leadership challenge. Asked whether he expected Mr Starmer to launch a challenge next week, he told Sky News: "I'm not Nostradamus." He highlighted the Government's achievements this week, including a social media ban for under-16s and securing £1.3 billion of investment at the G7, creating over 1,400 jobs. He also noted the scheduled 2026 UK-EU summit on July 22, aiming to finalise deals on food, drink, and energy to reduce household bills.
