Andy Burnham’s crushing victory in the Makerfield by-election has triggered an ultimatum from Keir Starmer’s own cabinet: set a timetable to leave Downing Street by the end of the weekend, or be forced out. Transport secretary Heidi Alexander told the prime minister in a call on Friday he should outline his departure plans, according to the BBC, while foreign secretary Yvette Cooper also urged a timetable. One cabinet minister, who had not previously told Starmer to go, now calls his departure “inevitable”.
Starmer spent Friday phoning ministers to gauge support, but the message was clear. Chancellor Rachel Reeves offered her full support, but other senior figures – including Ed Miliband and Shabana Mahmood – had already told him last month to set a resignation date. Mahmood and Starmer have not spoken since the by-election result, sources say. The prime minister insisted he will fight any challenge and “not walk away”, telling the BBC: “I was elected to serve my country with a mandate we secured at a general election two years ago.”
“Keir Starmer faces a weekend deadline to set a departure timetable or be forced out after Andy Burnham's by-election win.”
But the pressure is mounting. Burnham, who crushed Reform UK in a seat the insurgent party should have won easily, is expected to travel to London on Monday to meet MPs, with his supporters hoping for a coronation rather than a contest. One MP estimates about 200 Labour colleagues would sign Burnham’s nomination papers if needed. Former deputy leader Harriet Harman warned: “The herd is not just moving against Keir Starmer, it’s stampeding.” Lord Falconer, Tony Blair’s former lord chancellor, advised the prime minister not to stand in any leadership election, saying a contest would be “very difficult” and “bad for the country”. Another grandee, Alan Johnson, told LBC: “If I could speak to him now, I’d say, ‘It’s over, Keir; Andy is going to stand, and he’s going to win.’”
Inside Downing Street, Starmer urged Labour staff to “pull together” and avoid “plunging our party and our country into chaos by turning on each other”. But senior sources warn that if he fails to resign or indicate a transition by the weekend, an intervention will come at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting. “Everyone thinks it is over and everyone wants it to be a dignified, orderly exit,” one cabinet source said. Another added: “There comes a point where you ask: what is more important? Is it loyalty or delivering your agenda?” The prime minister’s fate may be sealed within days.