Downing Street said Keir Starmer is getting on with the job of governing, with a jam-packed schedule of government announcements lined up for the coming days
Keir Starmer will have to make his “own decision” on whether he fights in a leadership contest, a Cabinet minister has said, as Labour braces for another tough week ahead.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy raised doubts the PM would run as a candidate in a leadership race amid speculation he could set out a timetable for his departure.
Downing Street said Mr Starmer is getting on with the job of governing, with a jam-packed schedule of government announcements lined up for the coming days.
Ministers are this week set to unveil a raft of policies on youth justice, illegal working on high streets and plans for small businesses. And Chancellor Rachel Reeves will also set out cost of living support for the fallout of the war in Iran.
It follows a weekend of interventions by leadership hopefuls Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham. Mr Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, launched his pitch for a “new path for Britain” as he geared up for a return to Parliament after unveiling his plans to stand in a by-election in Makerfield.
He was given permission by Labour’s ruling body to stand in the race but awaits the final decision of the local party’s candidate selection process.
Labour staff have already hit the ground running as they turn their focus to the high stakes contest with Reform. June 18 is currently rumoured as a date for the electoral test.
Nigel Farage over the weekend posted photos of dozens of Reform activists campaigning in the Greater Manchester constituency, where his party came second in the general election.
And senior Reform figure Zia Yusuf vowed to dedicate himself to campaigning in the area to “end Andy Burnham’s career”. All eyes will be on who Reform selects as a candidate as the campaign kicks in.
Meanwhile, Mr Streeting – the former Health Secretary who resigned from government last week – split opinion after he said he supported Britain rejoining the EU and called Brexit a “catastrophic mistake”. Ms Nandy slapped down the suggestion and warned against “reopening the Brexit wars”. Mr Burnham, meanwhile, has said there is a “case” for rejoining the EU in the long term but “I’m not advocating that in this by-election”.
Ms Nandy – who is a Burnham ally – said it is a “tragedy” the Labour Party has “turned in on ourselves” over the last week as she pleaded with her colleagues to focus on what voters want after a miserable set of local elections results.
On leadership speculation, she said a woman leader of Labour is “long overdue”, but admitted she won’t put herself forward. She put her name in the hat in the 2020 leadership race but was defeated by Mr Starmer.
Asked why she repeatedly decided to refer to the “men” who currently appear to be seeking to replace the PM, Ms Nandy told Sky News’ Trevor Phillips: “It’s just not lost on me that I’m being interviewed by a man, being asked to give my views about several men in the Labour Party, who I’m clearly not a spokesperson for. I’m sorry if I’m coming across as a bit irritated.
“I think what is really winding me up, if I’m honest, is that people told us loud and clear last Thursday that things weren’t good enough, that they needed far more fundamental, far more urgent change in their lives.
“Somehow we seem to have just cut them out completely of the conversation over the last week, and Westminster has gone into introspection mode, where the debate is being led about personalities and about individuals.”
Former deputy PM Angela Rayner has also been floated as a Labour leadership contender after she was cleared of deliberate wrongdoing over her tax affairs by HMRC. But she is understood to be supportive of Mr Burnham and would only consider standing if he loses the by-election and is unable to stand in the race.
Home Office minister Jess Phillips – who quit the government last week with a savage review of Mr Starmer’s leadership – threw her weight behind the “bravery and boldness” of Mr Streeting.
She also became one of the first senior Labour figures to say she did not think Mr Starmer should run in a leadership contest. Asked if the PM should stand in a race, she said bluntly: “In my opinion, no.”
If a race is triggered, Mr Starmer is automatically a candidate – and he’s long been expected to battle it out until the end. Asked if he would fight on if he faced a challenge, Mr Starmer told The Sunday Mirror earlier this month: “I’m not going to walk away from the job I was elected to do in July 2024.”
But over the weekend it was rumoured he is considering his options, including setting out a timetable for a “dignified” exit from No10.
Some within Labour have suggested Mr Starmer and Mr Streeting should allow for a “coronation” of Mr Burnham, who has growing support, if the Greater Manchester mayor wins the Makerfield by-election.
But Mr Streeting on Saturday said there should be a “proper contest” to replace Mr Starmer as Prime Minister – and that he would stand in the race.
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