A return to Westminster for Andy Burnham is far from guaranteed, while Starmer could fight a leadership challenge and win
While Keir Starmer’s authority as prime minister feels terminally undermined following calls from MPs and departing ministers to step down, he remains inside No 10 – for now. So how, and when, might he be removed? Here are some possible scenarios.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, the likely favourite among Labour MPs, is not in parliament. That means any resolution in the coming weeks would require a sitting MP to trigger a contest by getting the backing of 80-plus colleagues, or persuading Starmer to set a timetable to quit.
The MP for Makerfield in Greater Manchester, Josh Simons, announced on Thursday afternoon that he is giving up his seat and wants Burnham to take it. But it remains to be seen if Downing Street will let him stand, and if he did, whether he would win.
If that did not happen for any reason, then there could be an impasse. Wes Streeting, who resigned as health secretary on Thursday, had reportedly pledged to start a contest but seemingly failed to raise the necessary support among MPs. Other possible challengers – like Angela Rayner and Ed Miliband – do not seem to be mobilising fully.
