Keir Starmer on the brink of resigning as Andy Burnham heads to Westminster
Keir Starmer (Isabel Infantes/PA)
Keir Starmer is believed to be on the brink of resigning as Andy Burnham is due to make his returnto Westminster on Monday.
After winning the Makerfield by-election, Mr Burnham is due to be sworn in as the Greater Manchester constituency’s MP and is expected to press Mr Starmer to set out plans to stand down.
The British Prime Minister, who has spent the weekend mulling his political future, is reported to have been told by members of his Cabinet, including British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, that he should set out a timetable for his departure.
No 10 said Mr Starmer's position remained unchanged from Friday, when he said he would not “walk away” from Downing Street and would stand in any potential contest.
But Cabinet minister Peter Kyle did not shut down questions of Mr Starmer considering quitting as he spoke to broadcasters on Sunday.
The Business Secretary said the Prime Minister was taking time to “think through what the political realities are today compared to last week, the week before”.
He said “I don’t know the decisions that he will make on behalf of our country”, but that “whatever unfolds” in the coming days will be a “functional process”.
It is understood that Mr Burnham is looking for a transition of about a month, which would give Mr Starmer time to get his Defence Investment Plan over the line in time for the upcoming Nato summit and sign his planned EU co-operation deal at the second annual reset summit with the bloc in July.
It is thought Mr Burnham’s camp would however, accept a timetable that sees Mr Starmer in No 10 until September.
Questions are being raised within Labour about how a change of leader would come about – with some backing a leadership contest and others a swift transfer of power to Mr Burnham.
York Central MP Rachael Maskell said she thought “a smooth transition and handover” over the next month would be best.
“I think it’s widely believed that even if there was a contest, that Andy Burnham would win that with a considerable majority, and therefore I do question why we need to go through that process,” she told the Press Association.
Labour peer Harriet Harman suggested the Parliamentary Labour Party could endorse Mr Burnham to give him some “legitimacy” if there are no other candidates.
Another Labour MP cast doubt on whether former health secretary Wes Streeting has the backing or would be a realistic competitor for Mr Burnham, even if he does, telling PA “there is no point having a contest if there is no second candidate”.
Mr Streeting suggested last week he was willing to trigger a contest and had the backing to do so, but there has since been speculation he could instead make a deal for a role in Mr Burnham’s Cabinet.
The number of Labour MPs calling for Mr Starmer to go has topped 100 – just under a quarter of the party’s cohort in the Commons – and includes some who signed a letter warning against a leadership contest just last month.
Labour grandees have also spoken out, with former home secretary Alan Johnson saying Mr Starmer should step aside and Lord Falconer saying he has “no authority” because it is assumed he will be replaced by Mr Burnham.
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