LONDON, June 4 – Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham indicated Thursday that he would participate in a leadership challenge against Prime Minister Keir Starmer, contingent on winning a local election scheduled for later this month.
During a BBC debate with other candidates competing for a parliamentary seat in northern England, the Labour mayor stated that the governing Labour Party requires fundamental change as it continues to lag behind in public opinion surveys.
Prime Minister Starmer, who currently holds some of the poorest approval ratings of any British leader, has pledged to defend his position. However, potential challengers are positioning themselves, including Burnham and former health minister Wes Streeting, who stepped down from his role last month in opposition to the prime minister’s performance.
When questioned about his political aspirations, Burnham, who previously made two unsuccessful bids for Labour leadership, expressed that he didn’t want to get “ahead of himself.” He emphasized that he must first secure victory in the Makerfield election on June 18 before he can mount any challenge to Starmer.
“I can’t do anything unless I’m lucky enough to get the support of people here (in Makerfield). But if I get your support, I would seek to represent you at the highest possible level,” Burnham stated during the debate.
Burnham suggested that Streeting appeared to have already “launched a leadership contest,” though the former health minister has not yet made any formal announcement.
“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. So that’s the only question,” Burnham explained.
