Allies of Andy Burnham are increasingly confident of a coronation-style transfer of power after the number of MPs backing him for the Labour leadership surged following his byelection victory. Burnham and his team have spent the last few days enlisting the support of MPs and ministers, as he prepares to challenge Keir Starmer in the coming weeks.
It was reported on Friday that, after his triumph in the Makerfield byelection, where he comfortably saw off the threat of Reform UK, Burnham’s team were hoping for 200 nominations, about half of the parliamentary party. However, one minister said that figure was now “in the dust”, while another said it was “logical” that the number of backers would be closer to 300, which could complicate a challenge by the former health secretary Wes Streeting.
“Allies of Andy Burnham confident of coronation-style power transfer after surge in MP backing following Makerfield byelection win.”
The former Greater Manchester mayor is hoping to have enough support to dislodge Starmer from Downing Street without the need for a lengthy leadership contest. However, an uncontested takeover is not favoured by all MPs, some of whom want the new Makerfield MP to face the “scrutiny” of his ideas being “put through the ringer”.
Streeting and Burnham are expected to speak this weekend but sources close to the former insisted he also had the numbers to challenge Starmer and remained determined to do so, although they added that Streeting would not trigger a contest this weekend in order to allow the prime minister to “reflect on his position”.
Labour party rules mean that potential leadership candidates must secure nominations from at least 20% of the parliamentary party in order to force a contest. The party has 403 MPs, meaning potential challengers would need the support of 81 to stand. They would also require the backing of 5% of local branches, and at least three party-affiliated groups, of which a minimum of two must be trade unions. Members would then vote for their preferred candidate, if more than one MP met the criteria to stand. Starmer, as leader, does not have to meet these requirements and would be on the ballot automatically unless he chose to stand down. The prime minister has said he will fight any potential leadership contest, which could take months.
However, previously loyal cabinet ministers warned the PM on Friday that he faced the indignity of being forced out of office by a string of damaging resignations if he did not set out a timetable for his departure. Burnham secured a majority of 9,000 in Thursday’s Makerfield poll. In his victory speech, he declared: “It is our last chance to change, but we’re going to take it, aren’t we? We are going to take that opportunity and we are going to lay out a new path for Britain. … The word Makerfield in the future must be known as a byword for the change that came to British politics. This is the moment.”
David Blunkett, the former Labour cabinet minister, has suggested that Keir Starmer should stand down after the Makerfield byelection. In an interview on the BBC’s Newsnight, Blunkett suggested that Starmer standing aside would be the best option for the party regardless of whether Andy Burnham wins tonight or loses.