Jess Phillips has said Sir Keir Starmer will likely still be ousted as prime minister even if Andy Burnham fails to win the Makerfield by-election and return to parliament. The former safeguarding minister, who resigned earlier this month, told the Hay Festival that a leadership challenge would go ahead regardless of the by-election result.
“I think even if Andy Burnham doesn’t win in Makerfield there will be a change of the prime minister,” Phillips said. She added that she expected Burnham to win the contest, which would then likely lead to a change in leadership. The by-election is scheduled for 18 June.
Phillips stepped down from her ministerial role in protest at Starmer’s leadership, accusing him in her resignation letter of failing to act fast enough on violence against women and girls. Speaking at the festival, she said she felt “liberated” since resigning and criticised Starmer for not telling the story of the country’s broken state after years of austerity.
The prime minister has vowed to stay on and fight any official challenge. However, the Labour Party remains deeply divided after disastrous local election results, with nearly 100 MPs calling for Starmer to step down. Health secretary Wes Streeting also resigned, saying he delayed triggering a leadership race to give Burnham time to return to the Commons.
