Keir Starmer will have to step down as Prime Minister even if Andy Burnham loses the Makerfield by-election and fails to secure a House of Commons seat, a senior Labour MP has claimed. Jess Phillips, who recently resigned as a Government minister, said she believes a leadership battle is inevitable regardless of whether Mr Burnham returns to Westminster or not.
Burnham's By-Election Bid
Mr Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, is standing in the Makerfield contest with a view to challenging the Prime Minister. However, Ms Phillips—an ally of rival leadership hopeful Wes Streeting—asserted that a change in Downing Street would occur even if Mr Burnham does not succeed in his bid.
Speaking at the Hay Festival on Monday, Ms Phillips stated: 'I think even if Andy Burnham doesn't win in Makerfield there will be a change of the Prime Minister.'
Fierce Contest in Makerfield
The Makerfield by-election is being fiercely contested, with all major parties fielding candidates against Labour's Mr Burnham. Reform UK is eyeing another by-election success in a Northern seat following its victory in Runcorn and Helsby last year. However, party leader Nigel Farage has warned about a schism in the Right-wing vote after controversial billionaire Elon Musk backed the rival group Restore Britain.
Ms Phillips, who recently resigned as safeguarding minister with a scathing letter accusing Sir Keir of failing to be 'bold', said she felt 'liberated' since leaving her role. 'I can sort of see where Keir Starmer and Keir Starmer's loyalists come from, in that the idea that we could repair a country so badly broken after years of austerity quite so quickly, is just a lie,' she said. 'But then also what he has not done is grab that particular mantle or even actually tell the story.'
Ms Phillips added: 'I've never been to Wigan in my life, so I have absolutely no idea about the people there, so I shall go and find out. But, yes, I imagine Andy Burnham will win it, and I imagine then that the PM changes.'
Leadership Unrest
Ms Phillips quit her Home Office role earlier this month, joining a string of ministers resigning in protest at Sir Keir's leadership. She accused him in her letter of failing to act fast enough on violence against women and girls, saying his 'desire not to have an argument means we rarely make an argument, leaving opportunities for progress stalled and delayed'.
Scores of Labour MPs have called for the Prime Minister to stand down following an electoral hammering earlier this month across English councils, Wales, and Scotland. Wes Streeting quit as Health Secretary after losing confidence in Sir Keir's leadership and is expected to stand in any contest to replace the PM.
Burnham's Campaign
Mr Burnham launched his by-election campaign saying 'a vote for me in this by-election is a vote to change Labour'. Mr Farage claimed Mr Burnham would be 'delighted' that Mr Musk is trying to 'split the Right of British politics as best he can'.
The first poll of the by-election campaign suggested Mr Burnham (on 43 per cent support) has a slim three-point lead over Reform candidate Robert Kenyon (40 per cent). Restore Britain, led by Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe, were third in the Survation survey on 7 per cent support.
Posting on his X social media platform on Sunday, Mr Musk shared a tweet from Mr Lowe about the Makerfield contest, adding the comment: 'Restore Britain.' Speaking to The Telegraph, Mr Farage said Mr Burnham would be 'delighted'. He said: 'Elon Musk has decided he will try to split the Right of British politics as best he can. This is supporting a party that's one man with a social media account. Quite what he's trying to achieve, I have no idea.'
