Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has warned that infighting within the Labour Party is a distraction from “serious issues” facing the world, after Andy Burnham declared he would seek to enter any leadership contest. Speaking to LBC, Sir Keir insisted he was “not going to walk away” from No 10, despite the Greater Manchester mayor’s announcement on Thursday night.
Mr Burnham, Labour’s candidate in the Makerfield by-election, told the BBC’s Question Time that a “fundamental change” is needed in Westminster. Asked about his intentions if he wins the seat, he said: “I would seek to represent you at the highest possible level… if that [leadership contest] is running, I would seek to join it.” Former health secretary Wes Streeting has also declared he would stand to replace Sir Keir.
Sir Keir argued that a leadership fight would prevent Britain from dealing with “the serious issues of our time”, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. “We have to step up on defence and security of our country,” he said. “We should be getting on with the job that we were elected to do in 2024, not plunging into an internal fight.”
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy echoed the Prime Minister’s sentiments, telling LBC: “There is no contest at the moment, and my view is it would be a huge distraction.” A No 10 spokesperson added that the Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader, which “has not been triggered”, and that Sir Keir “will not walk away from the mandate he was given just two years ago”.
Attorney General Lord Hermer said he believes Sir Keir can survive a leadership challenge, noting that “no-one has ever got rich betting against Keir Starmer”. The Makerfield by-election, triggered when Labour’s Josh Simons stood down, is expected to be a tight race between Mr Burnham and other candidates.
