North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has backed Andy Burnham to replace Sir Keir Starmer in Downing Street, following Mr Burnham's decisive victory in the Makerfield by-election. The result has intensified pressure on the Prime Minister, who insists he will not step aside.
Leadership Challenge 'Almost Inevitable'
Ms McGuinness told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that a formal challenge to Sir Keir's leadership is now “almost inevitable” and that Mr Burnham would have her support. She said: “What I want to see is more power in this region, I want to see the way the country is run change in the interests of people who live here. If there is a leadership election, Andy will have my support because I think it is time for that change to be delivered.”
She acknowledged that Sir Keir has made progress on issues such as poverty, the minimum wage, renters' rights, and workers' rights, but added: “People have not felt the change they wanted to see quick enough. I just don’t think he will be accepted by the British people for very much longer and, with that in mind, we have to consider a change.”
Burnham's Return to Westminster
Mr Burnham gave up the Greater Manchester mayoralty to return to Parliament. He defeated Reform UK’s Rob Kenyon by more than 9,000 votes, increasing the majority held by his predecessor Josh Simons. Ms McGuinness described the result as “incredibly impressive” and urged MPs to act swiftly if there is to be a leadership change.
She added: “I think the most important thing for me is that we end this circular national conversation about who is going to run the country. Since the local elections, and probably a little bit before, there has been absolutely no other discussion in British politics and we have a huge amount of stuff to do in this country to improve people’s lives, help them with the cost of living, fix so many broken things, and deliver on that change that people want to see and the hope that people have.”
Local Reactions
Newcastle Central and West MP Chi Onwurah, who was in Makerfield on Thursday night, said the party would “have to take the weekend to digest” the “fantastic” result. She noted: “The message is clearly that Andy's message of change and hope went down well. Nobody expected this kind of result - everyone had said how it was supposed to be neck-and-neck.”
David Smith, Labour MP for North Northumberland, said the result proved “Labour can win when we listen to communities and offer a real chance to change the systems that shape their lives”. However, he cautioned against a leadership battle becoming a “beauty contest focusing on who we think can win” with “no serious debate around how the Labour Party should govern and what to do with power”.
Ian Lavery, Labour MP for Blyth and Ashington, added: “Great to see Andy Burnham win so comprehensively in Makerfield last night with a message of hope. Very happy to endorse his message that communities like those in Makerfield and here in South East Northumberland have been ignored for too long.”
Ms McGuinness said she understood why Mr Burnham left his mayoral post to “take the fight to Westminster”, but confirmed she had never considered standing for Parliament herself. The former Newcastle councillor emphasised that politics needs to change to see more decisions made outside London, and she is “extremely committed to be a mayor who is part of that change”.
