Allies of Keir Starmer have discussed a strategy to block Andy Burnham from becoming Labour leader, including raising the risk of losing the Manchester mayoralty, the fragile geopolitical situation, and potentially offering him a job, the Guardian can reveal. The so-called '100m hurdles' plan comes as Burnham's team tries to prevent a chaotic collapse of the government after the Makerfield byelection.
Burnham's campaign has been forced to talk ministers out of resigning as early as this weekend, fearing a rapid collapse of Starmer's administration would increase instability. Senior campaign figures believe Starmer should be given time to set out a departure timetable, with Burnham not planning to announce any challenge immediately after the result.
Some ministers are 'trigger happy' and have already offered to quit, Burnham allies revealed, suggesting several below cabinet level could resign to pressure Starmer. 'We're trying to hold that back. We can't have a Boris Johnson-style collapse,' a senior campaign figure said.
Starmer has insisted he will fight any challenge, but some of his closest allies predict the leadership crisis may reach a tipping point where he has no option but to stand down. Burnham supporters expect senior cabinet ministers to tell the prime minister over the weekend to agree to a handover of power.
Burnham met Wes Streeting in secret in Makerfield on Monday, though aides denied any Granita-style pact. The pair independently agreed that Starmer should be given time to reflect. However, Burnham's allies warned that clinging to power for more than a few weeks would result in a contest being triggered.
At the G7 summit, Starmer indicated he would offer Burnham a cabinet job, but Burnham's team said he would not be interested. Cabinet ministers including Steve Reed and Darren Jones have counselled Starmer to sack any ministers who tell him to resign, though others are sceptical due to the need for stability.
