Starmer Warns Burnham Against Early Labour Leadership Challenge

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has urged Andy Burnham not to launch an immediate bid for the Labour leadership if he wins the Makerfield by-election and enters Parliament, insisting the party should instead focus on retaining the Greater Manchester mayoralty.

If Burnham secures victory in Makerfield on Thursday, he will be required to step down as Greater Manchester mayor, triggering a mayoral by-election expected to take place by 6 August.

Burnham is widely seen as a potential challenger to Starmer's leadership once he returns to Westminster. However, speaking at the G7 summit, the prime minister dismissed the prospect of an early leadership contest, calling it "a bad thing" for the country and reaffirming his intention to remain Labour leader.

Starmer stressed that the upcoming Greater Manchester mayoral election would be a key priority for Labour, saying the party would need to "roll up its sleeves" to ensure it held onto the post. He also signalled that Burnham could be offered a Cabinet position if elected as an MP, describing him as someone who would "play a big part in the Labour government."

The comments came after former Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he was prepared to trigger a leadership contest as early as next week. Streeting, who resigned from the Cabinet last month, said he had delayed any challenge until after the Makerfield by-election to give Burnham the opportunity to participate.

Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Streeting argued that any "uncertainty and paralysis" surrounding Labour's leadership would need to be resolved if Burnham wins the seat.

Responding to Streeting's remarks, Starmer downplayed speculation over a leadership battle, saying Westminster was focused on internal politics while the party faced the immediate challenge of defending the Greater Manchester mayoralty.

Some Labour MPs have expressed concern that Reform UK could pose a serious threat in the mayoral by-election, despite Burnham's commanding victory in the 2024 contest.

Meanwhile, Burnham's allies argue that the importance of the mayoralty strengthens the case for him to move quickly into national leadership.

Reflecting on his own position, Starmer said serving as prime minister remained "the privilege of my life," adding that he viewed the role as a duty to serve the country and that he reminded himself of that responsibility every day.