Sir Keir Starmer has reportedly warned Andy Burnham against launching an immediate challenge for the Labour leadership if he is elected as an MP at the Makerfield by-election on Thursday. The Prime Minister has urged Mr Burnham and the party to focus instead on the election for a new Greater Manchester mayor, which a win for the current sitting mayor would spark.
Speaking at the G7 Summit in France, Sir Keir said the mayoral election would be 'very important' and that the party would have to 'pull our sleeves up' to ensure a Labour victory. A leadership contest, he said, would be a 'bad thing' for the country, confirming again that he would fight any contest.
Sir Keir has also reportedly indicated he would offer Mr Burnham a job in his cabinet if he wins in Makerfield, saying he wants him to 'play a big part' in a Labour Government. Speaking to Sky News, the PM said: 'Andy is a great asset. And, yes, I want him to have a big role in government.' He added that he has spoken to Mr Burnham 'many times' in recent weeks and would do so again over the weekend.
The Greater Manchester Mayor hopes to win in the Makerfield by-election and secure a return to Westminster as an MP, and has made no secret of his Labour leadership ambitions. But Sir Keir repeated on Wednesday that he would not walk away from his post.
The Prime Minister is also facing a looming threat from his former health secretary Wes Streeting, who has indicated he is prepared to trigger a Labour leadership contest as early as next week. Mr Streeting meanwhile said he has the backing of the 80 MPs required to stand in a contest and accused Sir Keir of not listening to the party or his Cabinet in a series of public appearances on Tuesday.
Asked if he would call Mr Burnham at the weekend and invite him to join the Cabinet if he wins in Makerfield, the Prime Minister 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.'
The PM insisted the focus would fall immediately to a contest to replace Mr Burnham in his mayoral seat if he became an MP. Asked what preparations he was making for a potential Labour leadership contest, he told reporters: 'First and foremost, I want Andy Burnham to win, and that's why I've encouraged activists and members to go up there during the course of the campaign, and they'll be up there tomorrow helping to get the vote out. Then what happens is we're immediately tipped into a Manchester mayoral contest by-election, one of the biggest by-elections that we've ever fought, because of the scale of it. And it's really important to my mind that the whole of the Labour Party and Labour movement focuses on that, which is the next most immediate task. I don't think there should be a challenge. I think history, particularly the last government, shows that that isn't a successful way for a government to behave. But if there is a challenge, then I intend to fight. I'm not going to walk away from that, and I've been clear and consistent about that.'
