Starmer Backs Burnham in June 18 By-Election as Labour Revolt Threatens His Leadership
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 21
Starmer Backs Burnham in June 18 By-Election as Labour Revolt Threatens His Leadership
11 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 21
Sir Keir Starmer said he will campaign in Makerfield for Andy Burnham, calling on Labour to "all pull together and fight" in what he cast as a straight contest with Reform UK.
The move is striking because Burnham is widely seen as a potential leadership challenger if he enters Parliament, even as his camp said anyone embracing his campaign message is welcome.
Starmer is trying to steady his position after dozens of Labour MPs urged him to quit, Wes Streeting resigned, and Labour lost power in Wales and nearly 1,500 council seats in England.
Makerfield has become an early test of that crisis: Nigel Farage is campaigning hard for Reform candidate Robert Kenyon, while Burnham has argued Britain has been on the wrong path for 40 years and that his candidacy would change Labour.
Can Keir Starmer survive the victory of the candidate he is now publicly campaigning for?
With dire economic forecasts clashing with government claims, are Britons facing a recovery or a looming financial crisis?