Sir Keir Starmer may resign as soon as Monday as Andy Burnham is poised to replace the Prime Minister, according to senior Labour figures. The Prime Minister has vowed not to walk away, even as public talk of a leadership contest or handing power to Burnham has gained pace since he won the Makerfield by-election on Friday.
Growing Pressure on Starmer
The number of Labour MPs calling for Starmer to go has topped 100 – just under a quarter of the party’s MPs – and includes some who signed a letter warning against a leadership contest just last month. Labour grandees have also spoken out, with former home secretary Alan Johnson saying Sir Keir should step aside and Lord Falconer saying he has “no authority” because it is assumed he will be replaced.
The Prime Minister is understood to be at Chequers with his wife, Lady Victoria, this weekend, with reports suggesting he could announce a timetable for his departure tomorrow. Going early could pre-empt a brutal showdown with his Cabinet on Tuesday.
Timeline for Transition
A senior ally told The Sun they believe there is “just a 25% chance he fights on now”, while The Observer cited a Labour peer who said they think Sir Keir sees that “stopping ‘chaos’ (as he rightly put it) is now not possible by staying.” Senior Labour figures believe a “clear statement” could come on Monday, according to The Observer.
No 10 said Sir Keir’s position remained unchanged from Friday, when he said he will not “walk away” from Downing Street and that he plans to stand in any potential contest. He warned 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”.
Burnham's Camp Prepares
He is understood to have spoken to a number of Cabinet ministers on Friday, some of whom are reported to have told him he should set out a timetable for his departure. Some in Westminster believe a contest could begin as early as next week, but allies of Burnham favour a longer wait to allow them to prepare for government.
It is understood that Burnham’s camp wants Sir Keir to set out his plans in the coming days but would accept a timetable that kept him in No 10 until September, which is when Labour conference takes place. The incoming Makerfield MP is expected to be in Westminster on Monday to be sworn into the Commons.
He is reportedly planning to speak to Sir Keir afterwards and present him with a list of backers – which he is said to be seeking to get up to 200 – in a bid to press him to step down and set out a transition. In a blow to Sir Keir, Labour peer Charlie Falconer said Sir Keir has “absolutely no authority” because “everybody assumes” Burnham is going to challenge him and win. He said he would advise Sir Keir not to stand in a leadership contest and instead agree a handover, preferably before the parliamentary recess on July 16.
