UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing fresh pressure to set out a timetable for leaving Downing Street after Andy Burnham’s decisive victory in the Makerfield by-election cleared the way for a possible Labour leadership challenge.
A growing number of Labour MPs are urging the prime minister to step aside and allow a managed transition to Burnham, avoiding what could become a divisive leadership contest. However, Sir Keir has insisted he will not “walk away” and said he would stand again if challenged.
Burnham’s allies have reportedly urged Sir Keir to reflect over the weekend and listen to his cabinet, MPs and family.
The former Greater Manchester mayor’s team, along with that of another potential challenger, Wes Streeting, said they would not give media interviews over the weekend, apparently to give the prime minister time to consider his position.
Sir Keir spent part of Friday contacting cabinet ministers to assess his support. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is understood to have suggested he announce a timetable for leaving office, while Chancellor Rachel Reeves offered him her full backing after the Makerfield result.
A spokesperson for Alexander said: “Heidi and the PM spoke this afternoon as part of wider cabinet calls. It was a private conversation and I am not going to reveal what was said.”
Asked whether he would now set a departure timetable, Sir Keir said: “I was elected to serve my country with a mandate that we secured at a general election two years ago.”
He said his government had delivered economic stability and brought immigration “back under control”, adding that there was more he wanted to achieve.
But he continued: “if there is a contest, yes I will run. I will stand and I have said repeatedly I am not going to walk away from that.”
In a call with Labour staff, Sir Keir urged the party to stay united.
“The one thing we’ve got to avoid doing is plunging our party and our country into chaos by turning on each other and tearing apart our party and our movement.
“That has never worked. That’s what the last government did. We need to learn that lesson.”
Burnham, who will be formally sworn in as an MP on Monday, increased Labour’s vote share in Makerfield by 10% and defeated the Reform UK candidate by more than 9,000 votes.
Speaking after his victory, Burnham described the result as an “opportunity to turn the tide… make the country feel like it’s working again”. He said he would carry the “energy” of the campaign forward and “change British politics forever”.
Some Labour MPs have already shifted behind Burnham. Peter Swallow, MP for Bracknell, said he now believed Sir Keir should resign.
“Frankly, our inability to agree a defence investment plan in a timely fashion was the last straw,” he said, adding that he would support Burnham for leader.
Bassetlaw MP Jo White also said the prime minister should use the weekend to consider his future.
“I think he needs the peace and quiet of his family and listening to his ministers and I think he should announce on Monday morning that there will be a smooth transition and we allow Andy Burnham to become the next prime minister for the United Kingdom.”
However, other Labour figures have defended Sir Keir. Justice Minister Catherine Atkinson said he had “grit and determination” and would not “walk away”.
“We saw the constant change of prime ministers under the Conservatives and it wasn’t edifying.
“We cannot afford to get distracted – there is just too much to do.”
Burnham’s return to Parliament means he is now eligible to stand for the Labour leadership. Any challenger would need the backing of 81 Labour MPs, a threshold Burnham is widely expected to reach.
Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage described his party’s second-place finish in Makerfield as “disappointing”, but claimed some voters had backed Burnham to force Sir Keir out.
In Scotland, the SNP held Arbroath and Broughty Ferry but lost Aberdeen South to the Conservatives, giving the Tories their first Scottish by-election victory in more than 50 years.
