Andy Burnham has for the first time confirmed he would enter any Labour leadership contest, declaring on national television that he would “seek to represent you at the highest level” if he wins the Makerfield by-election on 18 June. The Greater Manchester mayor’s comments, made on BBC Question Time on Thursday, triggered an immediate response from No 10, which said the prime minister “will not walk away from the mandate he was given just two years ago”.
Until now, Sir Keir Starmer and his allies had insisted he would not resign if a contest was triggered, but had left a question mark over whether he would actually stand. After Burnham’s explicit declaration, the prime minister’s position hardened, the BBC understands. Starmer told supporters this weekend he would fight any challenge, believing a leadership contest could plunge the country into chaos.
“Andy Burnham says he will join Labour leadership contest if he wins Makerfield by-election, backed by top chefs over VAT cut.”
Burnham said: “I think Wes Streeting seems to have launched a leadership contest, so if that is running, I would seek to join it. But I’d have to persuade members of the Parliamentary Labour Party to do the same.” Streeting, the former health secretary, has confirmed he would enter any contest and has encouraged people to back Burnham in Makerfield, wanting “a proper contest with the best candidates on the field”.
Pressure on Starmer has been mounting since historically bad local election results last month, in which Labour lost control of the Welsh Senedd and nearly 1,500 council seats. Streeting and a handful of junior ministers quit the government in the aftermath, while Burnham – regarded as the frontrunner in any future contest – set his sights on returning to Westminster.
Burnham has also drawn support from the hospitality industry after backing calls to cut VAT from 20% to 10%, in line with European rates. Tom Kerridge, the Michelin-starred restaurateur and BBC presenter, said he hoped Burnham would become prime minister. “Andy Burnham has backed a cut to VAT and as Manchester mayor he represents one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in the UK with a growing food scene,” Kerridge said. “This is somebody who understands nightlife, food, hospitality and entertainment … This is someone the whole of hospitality should get behind.”
Kerridge also criticised the Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, who has pledged to cut VAT to 10% but plans to fund it by reinstating the two-child benefit cap, which Kerridge said would “push more children into poverty”. During the Question Time programme, Burnham himself criticised Farage’s response to the Henry Nowak case, saying his appeal to “pure, cold rage” reminded him of US politics and should be avoided in Britain.
The by-election campaign in Makerfield also saw Reform’s candidate, Robert Kenyon, struggle to gain traction. When an audience member referenced his social media output, they said: “I’d rather have a career politician than a plumber who’s a sexist.” Kenyon, who described himself as a “plumber”, had earlier said of the by-election that he did not want to “use it as a stepping stone”.
With Burnham needing to win Makerfield to be eligible for a leadership contest, and Starmer vowing to fight any challenge, the stage is set for a potential Labour civil war – one that could be triggered by the ballot boxes in Wigan on 18 June.