Sir Keir Starmer has moved to dismiss growing speculation that Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham could mount a challenge against his leadership of the Labour Party, despite mounting pressure from rebel MPs.
Leadership Challenge Rumours Intensify
The Prime Minister insisted he was working 'very closely together' with Mr Burnham despite fresh suggestions of a potential coup plot emerging within party ranks. The speculation intensified this week when Mr Burnham pointedly refused to rule out a return to the House of Commons that would enable him to challenge Sir Keir for the leadership.
Rebel Labour MP Clive Lewis dramatically offered to give up his Norwich South seat to facilitate Mr Burnham's Westminster comeback. Under Labour Party rules, the Greater Manchester mayor would need to become an MP before being able to challenge Sir Keir for the party leadership.
Rebel MPs Voice Dissent
Mr Lewis has already described Sir Keir's position as 'untenable' and publicly stated that Mr Burnham should be given the opportunity to 'step up' to the leadership role. The Prime Minister's political woes deepened on Friday when a second Labour MP, Nadia Whittome of Nottingham East, joined Mr Lewis in calling for a change of leadership.
Speaking to journalists while travelling to the G20 summit in South Africa, Sir Keir attempted to deflect questions about his political future. He emphasised that every minute spent discussing leadership speculation was time wasted that should be focused on addressing the cost of living crisis and improving public services.
Burnham's Ambiguous Position
Mr Burnham on Thursday repeatedly declined to rule out challenging Sir Keir for the Labour leadership, stating he was 'not in a position to rule out such a move'. The former minister and ex-MP for Leigh also acknowledged that he 'appreciates the support' of Mr Lewis following his extraordinary offer to vacate his constituency.
In a separate development, Ms Whittome reinforced the growing discontent within party ranks during an interview with former Labour candidate Ali Milani. She stated unequivocally that 'there does have to be a new leader' and expressed doubt that even a radical change of direction from Sir Keir would convince voters or his own team.
Despite a previous setback at Labour's conference earlier this year when his leadership ambitions were hinted at, Mr Burnham continues to be frequently mentioned as a potential successor to the Prime Minister. When pressed on whether Mr Burnham should temper his ambitions, Sir Keir told reporters: 'Andy's doing a really good job as mayor in Manchester and we work very closely together.'
The Prime Minister highlighted their collaborative response to the recent attack on a synagogue in Manchester, noting that he had immediately contacted Mr Burnham for assessment and later travelled to meet him personally to review the situation.
