Burnham Team Urges Ministers to Delay Resignations as Starmer Faces Makerfield Leadership Test
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 17
Burnham Team Urges Ministers to Delay Resignations as Starmer Faces Makerfield Leadership Test
2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 17
Summary
Burnham allies have been talking ministers out of quitting as early as this weekend, fearing a rush of resignations after Thursday’s Makerfield byelection could tip Starmer’s government into a Boris Johnson-style collapse.
The camp wants Starmer given time to set a departure timetable and says Burnham will not launch an immediate challenge, aiming instead for a managed handover if he beats Reform and proves he can steady Labour.
Several junior ministers are said to be ready to resign to pressure Starmer, while cabinet figures expect senior ministers to urge him over the weekend to accept a transfer of power rather than a prolonged contest.
Starmer is still insisting he will fight, with No 10 discussing ways to block Burnham and loyalist MPs meeting on a fightback strategy, even as allies concede his path to survival is extremely narrow.
Burnham met Wes Streeting secretly in Makerfield on Monday, but aides denied any pact; Burnham’s team says if Starmer accepts the reality quickly, an uncontested handover could be completed within 1 or 2 weeks.
The Makerfield by-election stands as a crucial moment for the Labour Party, with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham facing Reform UK's Robert Kenyon, who previously finished second in the 2024 general election. Reform UK’s strong local performance—winning nearly all Wigan Borough Council seats—makes this contest especially tough for Labour. The outcome could shape the party’s future direction, as Labour’s chances now rely heavily on Burnham’s personal appeal to voters. This high-stakes race not only tests Labour’s local strength but also signals broader challenges and potential shifts in party leadership.