Starmer’s last stand: burnham’s shadow looms as labour faces crisis
The Prime Minister’s position is fracturing. Labour MPs are reportedly urging restraint against a premature challenge to Keir Starmer, instead pushing for a swift return of Andy Burnham to parliament – a desperate gambit to salvage his leadership.
Burnham’s resurgence: a potential lifeline?
Just days after being locked in a fierce battle with Whitehall over the disastrous vetting of Peter Mandelson, Mayor Burnham has been aggressively campaigning in the local elections across five London boroughs – Haringey, Islington, Southwark, Lewisham and Bromley. Once viewed with suspicion by the 2024 intake, Burnham is now actively cultivating relationships, evidenced by a weekend meeting with Angela Rayner. The party’s right wing, however, is unified: ‘It’s Andy or bust,’ declared one senior centrist MP, ‘Nothing else works. Nobody else can win.’
The pressure is mounting. Starmer, bolstered by the left bloc’s commitment to stall any immediate replacement, faces a growing insurgency from within. But a return for Burnham – blocked from a recent by-election – is now a central demand, contingent on his acceptance of a leadership challenge. The stakes are incredibly high. A disorderly transition, mirroring the disastrous fate of Boris Johnson, is vehemently opposed.
A calculated drag – or a fatal mistake?
Backbenchers are reportedly preparing to leverage Burnham’s potential return as a price for their support in any subsequent leadership race. “This has changed in the last few months – MPs have coalesced around Burnham in a way they hadn’t before,” one MP stated. “They also don’t want to do what the Tories did with Boris and have a disorderly transition to another insider. They are willing to drag this out until Burnham gets back.”
The potential ramifications are concerning. Several MPs voice anxieties about the long-term damage to the party’s brand – particularly in key constituencies – should a protracted leadership battle ensue. “Never underestimate the power of the rules-based order in the Labour party to ensure we always move too late,” warned one MP. “I am not sure the brand damage would be recoverable from by 2028 in many of the places we need to win.”
Starmer’s defenses – and the rivals’ weaknesses
Starmer’s allies are emphasizing the public’s reaction to a leadership contest amidst the current economic turmoil. “All those 2024 intake MPs who think appointing a caretaker PM is a brilliant idea should consider how the country will take it,” one senior backbencher declared. “The country and the Tories will demand a general election immediately, as they didn’t elect anyone but Starmer to be PM.”
Furthermore, Starmer’s critics highlight the unsuitability of potential alternatives. “There’s no point crying about Andy Burnham – he’s literally not eligible,” one MP stated bluntly. “Wes [Streeting] is compromised. Angela [Rayner] has HMRC issues. Ed [Miliband] lost us 2015. Everyone hates Shabana [Mahmood]. Who is going to stand?”
Ultimately, Starmer seems prepared to deploy any measure necessary to maintain his grip on power. “He is prepared to do anything to stay in post,” a minister confirmed. “Sack Wes, sack Ed, whatever it takes.”