The Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, arrives at Downing Street in London for a meeting with regional mayors on March 31. Burnham announced Thursday his intention to quit and challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the leadership of the party and the position of prime minister of Britain. File photo by Tolga Akmen/EPA
May 15 (UPI) -- Momentum was gathering Friday behind a bid by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to oust Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer after a route back into Parliament opened and his main rival endorsed him.
Posting on X hours after Burnham announced his intention to run for a member of Parliament in northwestern England -- being vacated specifically to give him a shot at the top job -- former Health Secretary Wes Streeting threw his backing behind Burnham.
Streeting urged the rival wings of the ruling Labour Party put their differences aside and unite behind the veteran party figure.
"We need our best players on the pitch. There is no doubt that Andy Burnham is one of them. The Makerfield by-election will be tough," wrote Streeting, who quit the Cabinet on Thursday and said he had lost confidence in Starmer.
