Around 200 Labour MPs crowded into Westminster Hall on Monday to greet Andy Burnham as he was sworn in as the new MP for Makerfield – while inside Downing Street, Keir Starmer gave a private speech to staff, thanking them for making a difference “to people you never met, who will never know what you did.”
Starmer’s resignation, announced earlier that day, triggered immediate demands from Wales’ first minister Rhun ap Iorwerth for a “new relationship” with Westminster. Ap Iorwerth, whose Plaid Cymru became the country’s biggest party in May’s historic Senedd election, spelled out a list of demands from the prime minister’s successor, including more powers for the Welsh government and fair funding.
“Starmer resigns as PM; Welsh first minister demands new relationship; Burnham sworn in as MP amid leadership race.”
“I wish Sir Keir Starmer well as he prepares to leave office,” ap Iorwerth said in a statement. “I would like to see his successor recognising that Wales needs a new relationship with Westminster, with a focus on greater powers, fair funding and respect for the democratic mandate delivered by the people of Wales.”
He expressed disappointment that the Welsh government’s ability to engage with the prime minister had been “hampered by the turmoil in Westminster.” A promised June meeting between Starmer and the first ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland had failed to materialise.
Welsh Labour MPs Tonia Antoniazzi and Ruth Jones told BBC Wales they thought Starmer had “done the right thing.” Interim Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates praised the outgoing prime minister, saying he had brought his party “back from oblivion.”
But Reform’s Welsh leader Dan Thomas called for a general election, arguing: “The public must decide who governs the country, not Labour members.”
Starmer said he would remain in post until a new Labour leader is selected by the party in September. With Burnham now a sitting MP, speculation is mounting that he could become prime minister within weeks.