Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under mounting pressure to resign following Andy Burnham's victory in the Makerfield by-election, with a Cabinet minister failing to rule out the possibility that Starmer could announce his departure as soon as Monday (June 22). Business Secretary Peter Kyle said Starmer is reflecting on the "political realities" he now faces.
Pressure Mounts After By-Election Defeat
Starmer vowed not to walk away from his post on Friday (June 19) after Burnham's win, but over the weekend, the number of Labour MPs calling for his resignation topped 100 — just under a quarter of the party's MPs. Some of these MPs had signed a letter warning against a leadership contest only last month.
Speaking to broadcasters on Sunday (June 21), Kyle said he had not spoken to the Prime Minister since Friday, when they had a "frank conversation." Asked about reports that Starmer is planning to announce his resignation in the coming week, Kyle told Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: "I have nothing to believe that they are true. I'm seeing a lot of speculation out there. The only thing I can say with fact is that the Prime Minister is hard at work, as he is every day."
Kyle: PM 'Taking Time to Think'
Kyle added: "At the same time he is also trying to create the space where he can think and reflect on the political realities and challenges, and the opportunities, that lie before us." On the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, he said that "whatever unfolds" in the coming days will be a "functional process."
"I don't know what's going to unfold in the days that lie ahead. I don't know the decisions that he will make on behalf of our country as he considers these issues, and then makes decisions," Kyle said. "But we will find a way for this to be whatever unfolds, a functional process, one where the Labour Party is seen to put the interests of the country first and foremost, and we will carry on delivering for this country through whatever does unfold in the days ahead."
No 10 Insists Position Unchanged
No 10 said Starmer's position remained unchanged from Friday, when he said he will not "walk away" from Downing Street and will stand in any potential contest. However, when asked if the Prime Minister still plans to fight a leadership challenge, Kyle said "these are decisions for Keir to make" and repeated that the PM is "taking the time to think through what the political realities are today compared to last week, the week before."
Burnham Returns to Westminster
Kyle was also asked if he thought Burnham would make a good prime minister. He replied: "I think there is lots of people out there that have the qualifications, the temperament and the qualities to become prime minister. I think Andy Burnham could be one of those people." Burnham is due to return to Westminster on Monday to be sworn in as the new MP for Makerfield. His camp wants Starmer to set out his plans in the coming days but would accept a timetable that kept him in No 10 until September.
Leadership Challenge Threshold
If Starmer does not resign, 81 MPs would need to line up behind a candidate to trigger a contest. Former health secretary Wes Streeting suggested last week he would be willing to fire the starting gun on such a process.
