Sir Keir Starmer gathered his new-look Cabinet for the first time on Tuesday as Andy Burnham set out his stall for a potential leadership challenge. The regular Cabinet meeting was the first since Wes Streeting resigned as health secretary and called on the Prime Minister to quit last week.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy joked that it was “a nicer week than last week” as he arrived for the Downing Street meeting, as Sir Keir attempted to show the business of government was continuing despite the Westminster turmoil.
Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham used a slick campaign video to set out his vision after saying his attempt to win the Makerfield by-election was motivated by the need to “change Labour”. In the video, soundtracked by a series of Manchester bands including Elbow, James and Oasis, Mr Burnham said he wanted “a new path for Britain”.
The by-election was triggered by former minister Josh Simons quitting to make way for the Greater Manchester mayor to run for a return to Westminster and a possible challenge against Sir Keir.
Cabinet minister Pat McFadden, an ally of Sir Keir, told reporters: “Any unnecessary by-election is always a risk. It’s the voters who have their say, but like any by-election that is called for whatever reason, I want Labour to win.”
Reform UK will target the seat and has already said the “expensive by-election is all about (Mr Burnham’s) own personal ambition” rather than the best interests of the constituency.
Mr Burnham said: “Some say this by-election is unnecessary. I say it’s the most consequential of our lives. I don’t take anything for granted and I’m ready to accept the consequences of whatever choice people make.”
Setting out his political views, he said: “Manchesterism is the end of neoliberalism, the end of trickle-down economics that has left out places like Makerfield. Make no mistake, that means a new path for Britain.”
Mr Burnham has sought to reassure voters in the Leave-supporting Makerfield constituency that he is not seeking to rejoin the European Union – something he said last year he would like to see happen in his lifetime. And he has also attempted to calm the bond markets by insisting he will stick to the Government’s fiscal rules.
In the Commons, the writ was moved for the Makerfield by-election, firing the starting gun for the contest likely to be on June 18.
Sir Keir has insisted he will not set out a timetable for his departure even if the mayor returns to Parliament. If the Prime Minister does not resign, Mr Burnham would need to secure the backing of 81 Labour MPs to mount a leadership challenge, potentially setting up a contest with Sir Keir for party members’ votes.
But on Monday night, one of Mr Burnham’s supporters suggested the mayor would not seek an immediate leadership fight. Leeds MP Alex Sobel told LBC it was not his “expectation” that Mr Burnham would immediately trigger a contest, saying he would “come back and potentially serve in the Government, try and help us turn this Government round”.
Meanwhile, polling by YouGov suggested Mr Burnham would be Labour members’ preferred candidate for leader, with 47% saying he would be their first choice for the job. Some 31% ranked Sir Keir as their first choice, followed by former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner on 8%. Just 4% ranked Mr Streeting as their first choice, with 57% saying he was wrong to resign as health secretary and 15% backing him in a head-to-head contest with the Prime Minister. In a contest between Mr Burnham and Sir Keir, 59% said they would back the mayor while 37% would support the Prime Minister.
