Keir Starmer insisted he was going nowhere after Andy Burnham indicated he would challenge him if he becomes an MP, and accused the government of losing touch with working class people by overtaxing small businesses18:44, 05 Jun 2026Updated 18:54, 05 Jun 2026Keir Starmer has said he will not walk away from No10 after Andy Burnham confirmed he will join a leadership race if he becomes an MP.‌The Prime Minister defiantly said it would be wrong to plunge the country into an internal fight while the government is facing "the most dangerous and volatile world in our lifetimes".‌Mr Burnham, who is seeking a return to Westminster in the Makerfield by-election in less than a fortnight, said he would stand if a leadership contest is triggered. And on Friday he accused the government of overtaxing small businesses - vowing to cut rates for pubs and clubs and exempt thousands of small firms from paying altogether.‌He said: “Reconnecting Labour to working class Britain means backing our high streets and reconnecting with our local family-run businesses."The Prime Minister insisted he was going nowhere, telling LBC Radio: "Well, I've said over and over again, I'm not going to walk away. We won an election victory in 2024 with a five year mandate.‌"We're only two years into that, and so I'm not going to walk away from that. I'm very clear about that. Andy has got a lot of talent, of course he has."He continued: "I've already said we live in the most dangerous and volatile world in our lifetimes, and that's why I sincerely and profoundly believe that we should be getting on with the job that we're elected to do in 2024 - which is taking the decisions that are priority decisions for our country, not plunging into an internal fight in the Labour Party, which will distract us from the job that we're elected to do."A poll released on Thursday night suggests Mr Burnham is on course to win the by-election on June 18. Survation put him on 49%, ahead of Reform candidate Robert Kenyon on 39%, based on a sample of 518 voters in the constituency.‌In a major policy intervention, the so-called King of the North said the Labour government had lost touch with working class Britain by getting business rates wrong for small firms. He demanded a 20% cut for pubs and clubs next year. And he said small family-run businesses - including independent shops, restaurants and cafes - should be exempted from business rates altogether.Mr Burnham said: “I am willing to be honest about where we have fallen short - and say that my party has got this wrong in Government. They have undervalued the contribution these businesses make to our livelihoods and our communities.He also called for tech giants to pay higher rates on their warehouses as profits soar.‌A challenger to Mr Starmer would need to secure the support of 81 MPs to stand against the PM, and allies of the so-called King of the North are confident they would have the numbers. Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who resigned last month, has will also stand in a leadership contest.On Thursday Mr Burnham told BBC Question Time: "I think Wes Streeting seems to have launched a leadership contest, so if that is running, I would seek to join it. But I'd have to persuade members of the Parliamentary Labour Party to do the same. So that's the only question... I've said to my team, let's have a proper look at this and let's develop a policy."Labour's Josh Simons won with a majority of 5,399 at the 2024 general election, but last month Reform won all the available council seats in the local elections.Article continues belowLammy said: "There is no contest at the moment, and my view is it would be a huge distraction at this time. The Prime Minister, by the way, has been absolutely clear: if there is a contest, he'll be in it."