Starmer's Strategy Amidst Leadership Speculation
Labour leader Keir Starmer has expressed his desire to integrate Andy Burnham into a prominent government role, a move that comes as the party faces internal pressure and a potential leadership challenge. The discussions arise against the backdrop of an upcoming by-election for Greater Manchester Mayor, which Burnham is widely expected to win.
The Greater Manchester Mayoral By-election
Should Andy Burnham secure victory in the by-election, he would resign from his current mayoral position, triggering a subsequent election to find his replacement. This election is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, July 30. Bev Craig, the current leader of Manchester City Council, is considered a likely Labour candidate for the mayoral role. While Burnham enjoys significant personal popularity in the North West, which contributed to his easy win in the last mayoral election two years ago, the upcoming contest for the mayoralty is anticipated to be challenging for Labour, especially following Reform UK's strong performance in the recent local elections.
"First and foremost, I want Andy Burnham to win, and that's why I've encouraged activists and members to go up there during the course of the campaign, and they'll be up there tomorrow helping to get the vote out. Then what happens is we're immediately tipped into a Manchester mayoral contest by-election, one of the biggest by-elections that we've ever fought, because of the scale of it," Starmer stated.
Leadership Contest Looms
The prospect of a leadership contest has also been raised by former health secretary Wes Streeting, who reportedly threatened a challenge if Starmer did not establish a timeline for his departure. Starmer, however, maintains that a leadership challenge would be ill-timed, particularly with a significant mayoral by-election on the horizon.
"If there is a challenge, then I intend to fight. I'm not going to walk away from that, and I've been clear and consistent about that. We can't go on with this uncertainty. I think we will inevitably end up in a contest. I've given you my answer," Starmer commented on a potential challenge.
Starmer emphasized his strong working relationship with Burnham, noting their collaboration since he entered politics in 2015. He described Burnham as a "huge asset" and a "fantastic mayor," expressing confidence that if Burnham returns to Parliament, he would be a valuable asset to both the Labour Party and the country.