Andy Burnham has crossed the threshold of Labour MP nominations required to force a leadership contest against Sir Keir Starmer, according to three sources close to the matter, and intends to present the list of 81 backers to the Prime Minister to urge him to stand down without a contest.
Burnham’s blowout victory in the Makerfield by-election handed him a mandate to challenge Starmer – and he used his victory speech to call it a “last chance” to change the country. “We are going to lay out a new path for Britain,” he said. “The word Makerfield in the future must be known as a byword for the change that came to British politics. This is the moment.”
“Andy Burnham has secured 81 Labour MP nominations to trigger a leadership challenge against Keir Starmer.”
The secretive ring-round operation to gather nominations has been organised in “cells”, with each organising MP responsible for a small number of colleagues. Only a few figures have sight of the whole spreadsheet – the same technique used to organise the “reasoned amendment” rebellion against welfare cuts last summer. One insider said: “A contest isn’t in anyone’s interest and we’re hoping Keir will come to his senses.”
Under Labour rules, 20% of the party’s 403 MPs – 81 people – must back a replacement candidate to trigger a leadership election. Burnham’s team says he has passed that mark, with more MPs “80 per cent there” and likely to be added after the Makerfield result. Many more have pledged to support him once a contest is triggered.
Starmer has publicly said he will not stand down and any potential successor must challenge and defeat him. No Labour prime minister has ever faced a formal leadership challenge from their MPs. The Prime Minister is talking to his cabinet, his staff and Labour MPs this weekend as his premiership hangs by a thread, according to Channel 4 News. Cabinet loyalists have told him he has the weekend to set out a timetable for exit.
David Blunkett, the former Labour cabinet minister, has suggested Starmer should stand down after the by-election regardless of whether Burnham won or lost. Earlier, Labour performed badly in May’s local elections, losing almost 1,500 councillors in England, losing power in Wales and recording its worst ever result for the Scottish Parliament. More than 90 Labour MPs have publicly urged the PM to resign immediately or draw up an exit timetable, while more than 150 have indicated support for him.
Burnham and his allies say they are giving the Prime Minister time to consider his future. The pair have had no direct contact during the campaign. Both sides now look to the cabinet to play a crucial role – either to extend or cut short Starmer’s leadership. The timetable for any leadership ballot would be decided by Labour’s National Executive Committee.
If a contest is triggered, Sir Keir would be automatically on the ballot paper if he chose to stand. Party members and affiliated trade union supporters would vote by ranking candidates in order of preference. No date for a showdown has been set – but Burnham’s team is ready, and Starmer faces a weekend that will decide whether this becomes the first formal challenge to a sitting Labour prime minister.