Sky News' Sophy Ridge clashed with Labour's Steve Reed during a heated exchange following Andy Burnham's victory. The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government refused to acknowledge the possibility of a leadership election, prompting Ridge to press him repeatedly.
The Exchange
Reed told Ridge: 'Right now, I do not think anything is going to happen because he has to win that mayoralty for Greater Manchester.' Ridge responded: 'You don't think anything is going to happen - you don't think there is going to be a leadership contest?' When he failed to give a direct answer, Ridge interjected: 'Can I put this in a slightly different way then? If there is a leadership contest, will Keir Starmer fight it?'
Reed said Starmer had made it clear he would not walk away and would fight any leadership challenge. Ridge countered: 'With great respect, we all know this was a by-election about Burnham coming back to Westminster so he could be in a leadership contest. We all know that. You know that. Our viewers know that. Let's be honest about it.'
Reed dismissed the talk as 'all hypothetical chat,' but Ridge pressed further: 'Can I be honest? It feels a little bit like you are in denial about what's happened.' Reed insisted he was 'not in denial' as the clash intensified.
Viewer Reactions
Viewers on X commented on the clash. One wrote: 'The media undoubtedly is desperate for a Leadership election. Andy Burnham undoubtedly thinks he deserves to be PM without having won a general election. Neither of these are reasons for Sir Keir to relinquish the post for which he fought so long and hard.' Another said: 'He is in denial,' while a third penned: 'Dancing on pinheads perhaps, but there's a world of difference between a leadership election and a leadership challenge.'
