Andy Burnham is preparing to give Sir Keir Starmer what allies describe as a final opportunity to step aside before moves begin to force him from Downing Street.
The Daily Mail understands that the Greater Manchester mayor plans to deliver a private ultimatum to the Prime Minister this weekend, telling him he must either announce a timetable for his departure or face an attempted coup.
Burnham is not expected to publicly demand Starmer’s resignation if he wins Thursday’s Makerfield by-election. However, his backers are expected to increase the pressure in media appearances, adding to the scrutiny surrounding the embattled Prime Minister.
According to those close to the discussions, allies are also considering a coordinated round of ministerial resignations in an effort to push Starmer out.
Wes Streeting, another potential leadership contender, this week also urged the Prime Minister to provide clarity over his future. Speaking in London, the former health secretary said it was time to bring an end to what he called the “drift and uncertainty” at the top of the Labour government.
“When the results [from Makerfield] are in, I hope the Prime Minister will, at that stage, reflect on his own position and set out a timetable,” he said.
However, Sir Keir insisted again on Tuesday that he will fight any leadership challenge, potentially setting the scene for a struggle for power in which the needs of the country could be relegated for months.
More than 100 Labour MPs have called for him to quit following last month’s disastrous local election results. But speaking to reporters at the G7 summit in France on Tuesday, the PM said: ‘I’ve been very clear throughout this that we won a significant General Election result in 2024 with a mandate to bring about change. I’m not going to walk away from that, so I will fight if there’s a challenge. I don’t think there should be a challenge.’
Andy Burnham plans to give Sir Keir Starmer one final chance to ‘do the decent thing’ and resign
Sir Keir, pictured in Evian for the G7, insisted again on Tuesday that he will fight any leadership challenge
Allies of Mr Burnham claim he is determined to be in Downing Street by the time of the Labour Party conference in September at the latest. He is pushing for a bloodless ‘coronation’, arguing it will prevent Labour tearing itself apart.
Reports have claimed that Mr Burnham will launch a leadership campaign ‘within hours’ if he sees off a stiff challenge from Reform in Makerfield.
But Labour sources told the Daily Mail that he will start by asking supportive MPs to pile pressure on Sir Keir by calling for him to quit as soon as the Makerfield result comes through in the early hours of Friday morning.
He is then pressing for private talks with Sir Keir at the weekend where he will urge him to resign ‘with dignity’.
However, relations between the two men are in the deep freeze.
Sir Keir is said to be furious at Mr Burnham’s decision to publicly set out his ambition for power during the by-election. Allies claim the ‘betrayal’ led to him ditching a promise to campaign for Mr Burnham in the constituency.
If the PM refuses to budge, then Mr Burnham’s supporters could trigger a wave of ministerial resignations starting next week to try to force him out. Only if Sir Keir refuses to go will Mr Burnham seek the 81 nominations needed to mount a formal leadership challenge under Labour’s rules.
Mr Streeting, who quit the Cabinet last month, insisted he also has the support needed to trigger a leadership contest. And he
indicated he will try to ensure a contest even if Sir Keir does a deal with Mr Burnham to stand down. Mr Streeting acknowledged that a Labour contest could descend into a damaging slanging match that results in a ‘Dutch auction’ of unaffordable promises.
But, asked if he could step aside to allow Mr Burnham a coronation, he told the Daily Mail: ‘I think we are better off if our ideas are tested and there is that kind of genuine contest. I think the Labour Party will be better served… it doesn’t have to be a bitter contest.’
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham campaigns ahead of the Makerfield by-election
He added: ‘I think there should be a contest. I have every intention of standing in that contest.’
Meanwhile, a major union joined Angela Rayner in pushing for Labour to veer to the Left.
Unison chief Andrea Egan – a self-proclaimed ‘fan’ of Mr Burnham – linked funding for the party to a ‘course change’ for more ‘progressive’ policies. She suggested that included more public sector pay hikes and a U-turn on tough immigration curbs.
Meanwhile, in a speech to the union’s annual conference in Brighton, Ms Rayner insisted her workers’ rights overhaul was ‘just the start’.
She said the Government had to be ‘active and interventionist’ to increase wages by tackling ‘the vested interests ripping us off’.
