NewsPoliticsPoliticsLIVELast updated 21st June 2026Labour's leadership battle is in sharp focus after Andy Burnham won the Makerfield by-election with 24,927 votes - giving him a majority of 9,231, while Reform's Robert Kenyon was a distant secondA senior Labour government figure today refused to rule out the resignation of embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer.Number 10 has insisted the PM will continue to fight on following Andy Burnham's emphatic victory in the Makerfield by-election.But pressed on the issue of him quitting, Business Secretary Peter Kyle said this morning: “The reality right now is there are processes under way. There are people who seek to challenge Keir. I don’t know for fact what the next few days will entail.”He said the PM was spending the weekend "making time to reflect on the political realities, challenges, and opportunities that he finds himself in." He further described the current situation as "a moment where there's clearly political uncertainty."Reports today speculate the PM may set out a timetable to quit as early as Monday, despite his earlier insistence has said he "will stand" in a Labour leadership battle if one is triggered, with increasing pressure from top ministers and over 100 MPs to set out plans for his departure.Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander previously urged him to set out a plan to leave office during a private conversation and yesterday Baroness Harman, Labour's former deputy leader said called for a speedy resolution, saying ministers could not be left “in a state of paralysis all through the summer”.Andy Burnham convincingly won the Makerfield by-election - clearing a major obstacle on the path to No10. The 'King in the North' comfortably saw off controversial Reform candidate Rob Kenyon, winning nearly 55% of the vote.Mr Burnham described the result as a "turning point" and said he had unfinished business in Westminster, nearly a decade after he left Parliament.In the most consequential by-election in modern times, he picked up 24,937 votes compared to Mr Kenyon's 15,696. Rebecca Shepherd, of hard-right party Restore, came in third with 3,111. In his victory speech Mr Burnham said: “Everyone knows that politics isn’t working. Everyone can feel that the country isn’t where it should be. Tonight could, just could, be the turning point." As he left, he told reporters he was going for a pint.Follow live updates below....‌View PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView PostView Post21st Jun18:20 BSTThanks for stopping by!Our Makerfield by-election coverage has now stopped, but you can still follow all of the ongoing fallout from Andy Burnham's win in the Mirror's live blog.21st Jun15:19 BSTTrump claims Starmer WILL resignDonald Trump has been severely critical of Starmer, particularly since the Britih PM's refusal to join his war in Iran. Today, the US president issued a parting shot to the PM, saying Starmer "will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom" having "failed on two very important subjects."He failed badly on two very important subjects- IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!)," said Trump in a post on his Truth Social media site.Signing off his comment, Trump said he wishes Starmer "well".Starmer and Trump at the G7 last week(Image: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street)21st Jun14:53 BSTNeil Kinnock says Britain should rejoin the EUFormer Labour leader Neil Kinnock, who was also a European Commission Vice President, writes for The Mirror:The results are in. Ten years on from the referendum. Five years after completely leaving the European Union and the Single Market. Brexit is an unmitigated and absolute disaster.Independent analyses show: a 6-8 % loss to the national economy. A resulting reduction of £60 to £80 billion in revenues for vital services. A 12-18 % loss to investment.A 15 % drop in goods trade. Employment and productivity down by 3 or 4%.All this inflicts an average cost of £3,000 on each adult in the UK - £6000 for a normal household.Read more: 'After 10 years of cost and decline - the case for rejoining EU is patriotic'Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock at a Rejoin March yesterday(Image: Jeff Moore/PA Wire)21st Jun14:37 BSTStarmer loyalist calls for General Election if PM is oustedHome Office minister Mike Tapp, one of Keir Starmer's most prominent supporters in recent days, has suggested a General Election should take place if the PM is forced to step down as Labour leader.Writing on X (Twitter) this afternoon, he suggested a law should be passed to ensure changes of leader by a sitting government during a parliamentary term trigger a national poll - a measure he said would stop the "constant churn" of Prime Ministers.Content cannot be displayed without consent21st Jun14:26 BSTBurnham dons his shades and sandals on weekend walkIt's set to be a busy week to come for Andy Burnham as he returns to parliament after almost a decade away, while speculation continues to mount over whether there could soon be a vacancy at Number 10.But the former Manchester mayor seemed determined to keep things relaxed on a walk near his home in Cheshire today - right down to the choice of sunglasses and sandals.The new Makerfield MP is set to travel to London tomorrow(Image: ZENPIX LTD)21st Jun14:09 BSTAndy Burnham at the wheel in new photosMuch of the talk today has been about Keir Starmer's next move when he returns from Chequers to Number 10.But up in Cheshire, it appeared to be just another Sunday for his potential rival Andy Burnham, who was spotted in his car before heading for a short stroll near his home.He's expected in London tomorrow to be sworn in at the Houses of Parliament as new MP for Makerfield.Andy Burnham pictured today as he drives around Cheshire and takes a casual stroll(Image: ZENPIX LTD)21st Jun13:45 BST'Reform UK's Zia Yusuf came to Washington DC - and caught the conspiracy bug'Mikey Smith, the Mirror's US Political Editor, said a familiar face turned up on his recent trip to Washington DC:When I travelled to Washington DC last week, I was feeling pretty smug that, unlike my colleagues, I wouldn't have to pay much attention to the parties battling it out in the Makerfield by-election.So imagine my disappointment when, upon landing at Dulles Airport, I found I wasn't the only irritating Brit visiting America's capital - Reform UK's Home Affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf had beaten me to it by a few hours - and was giving a pretty baffling speech that night to bonkers right-wing think tank The Heritage Foundation.And he gave some hair-raising warnings about nefarious political interference from overseas.Read more: Reform UK's Zia Yusuf came to Washington DC and caught the conspiracy bugReform UK's Zia Yusuf gave a speech to US right-wing think tank The Heritage Foundation21st Jun12:45 BSTQuestions over what happens to manifesto under potential new Prime Minister Labour won landslide general election victory in 2024 - but if Keir Starmer quits as Prime Minister, it's no clear whether his successor would chose to stick to the manifesto it was elected on.Toby Perkins, a Starmer loyalist, said it needs to be clear whether a new leader would take the party on a “radical departure” from the manifesto.Former minister Jess Phillips, meanwhile, said candidates should at least present their ideas to the Parliamentary Labour Party.“I very much hope that over the next week, at least, that whilst we may not end up with a full-scale contest, that there is an opportunity to properly question, in somewhat of a public forum, what’s coming next?,” she told the BBC.Keir Starmer pictured with the Labour manifesto during the general election(Image: PA)21st Jun11:40 BSTKeir Starmer losing support among Cabinet allies as Yvette Cooper tells him to goThe Mirror's Deputy Political Editor Ashley Cowburn writes:Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary, was one of the top ministers to urge the Prime Minister to go in a series of calls held after the Makerfield by-election.The message was delivered privately and the Foreign Secretary has made no public comment.It also emerged on Friday that Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, delivered a similar message as Burnham's allies call for an orderly transfer of power. Previously Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, were said to have suggested to the PM his time was up.On Sunday morning Peter Kyle, the Business Secretary, said he had a "frank conversation" about the challenges facing the PM - but declined to be drawn further.Yvette Cooper called on the Prime Minister to set out a timetable for his resignation(Image: Getty Images)21st Jun11:34 BSTMixed messages over Prime Minister's future but next 24 hours could provide more clarityThis morning has seen Number 10 refute suggestions that the Prime Minister is planning to announce a timetable for his resignation - despite noncommital comments from business secretary Peter Kyle on the media round this morning.Keir Starmer has been staying at the official country retreat in Chequers with wife Victoria this weekend, and it's expected the beginning of the working week will provide some more clarity over his position.21st Jun11:17 BSTNumber 10 says Keir Starmer will fight onDowning Street has said the Prime Minister's position remains unchanged from Friday, when he said he would "fight on" and honour the mandate he won in the last general election.Content cannot be displayed without consent21st Jun09:59 BST'Whatever unfolds' will be 'functional process', says Peter KyleBusiness Secretary Peter Kyle said the government would make sure that "whatever unfolds" in the coming days will be a "functional process" - and would see the Labour Party put the "interests of the country first and foremost".The Cabinet minister told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: "Now, I can’t predict the future."I don’t know what’s going to unfold in the days that lie ahead. I don’t know the decisions that he will make on behalf of our country as he considers these issues, and then makes decisions."But we will find a way for this to be whatever unfolds, a functional process, one where the Labour Party is seen to put the interests of the country first and foremost, and we will carry on delivering for this country through whatever does unfold in the days ahead."That’s because Keir demands it."21st Jun09:47 BST'Being a dad is my greatest joy', says Keir StarmerAs speculation continued over whether he was set to depart Number 10, Prime Minister Keir Starmer took the time this morning to post on social media about father’s day.He wrote on X: “Being a dad is my greatest joy.“Today, I’m thinking about my dad, and the father I am to my children because of him.“Happy Father’s Day.”Content cannot be displayed without consent21st Jun09:37 BSTAnalysis - Peter Kyle interview a 'stark' moment for Keir StarmerIn his analysis of this morning's TV appearances from Business secretary Peter Kyle, the Mirror's Deputy Political Editor Ashley Cowburn writes:Peter Kyle’s interview on the BBC just now was stark.He made clear he wasn’t coming on the programme to be “delusional” and did not hose down reports the Prime Minister could announce his departure.No10 this morning is still insisting the position of the Prime Minister from Friday - when he said he will fight on - remains unchanged.But the Business Secretary pointedly did not repeat this message.He said: “I can’t predict the future. I don’t know what’s going to unfold in the days that lie ahead. I don’t know the decisions he will make on behalf of our country as he considers these issues and then makes decisions.”Pressed on whether the Labour Party was entering a period where there will some form of transition of power, he said: “Well, I don’t want to come on here and be delusional that there is no process, that there are no forces at work that are challenging the Prime Minister as leader. That is clearly the case.”He added: “The reality right now is there are processes under way. There are people who seek to challenge Keir. I don’t know for fact what the next few days will entail.”Peter Kyle didn't rule out the Prime Minister leaving his post in his TV appearances this morning(Image: BBC)21st Jun09:25 BSTBusiness secretary refuses to share details of private conversation with PMPeter Kyle said he was doing this morning's media round "because I've seen so much reporting that is completely out of kilter with the experience that I had" while speaking to the Prime Minister on Friday.He said of the meeting: "There was just the two of us in the room - I wanted to say that he was very thoughtful and professional."He led a conversation about the challenges our country faces and the political issues unfolding at the moment, and asked for my views. So I'm not giving away the details of it, but I am talking about the tone and the content."21st Jun09:17 BSTPrime Minister and cabinet working through 'political uncertainty'Business secretary Peter Kyle has now hopped over to the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg studio, where he is answering more questions on the Prime Minister's future.Describing the mood among the cabinet, he said: "We are a tight group of people, and we are now facing a period of political uncertainty, and we need to find a way to get through this that puts the country first."This is what we are trying to do."It is how we maintain the authority of the government, the authority of this Labour, government, and the authority of a Prime Minister as we go through what is, I acknowledge, a period of political challenge."He added that the Labour government had "learnt the lessons" of the "chaos" brought by leadership changes under the previous Tory government.Peter Kyle said the government was working through a period of 'political challenge'(Image: BBC)21st Jun09:10 BSTLabour MP says Keir Starmer 'deserves time'We've heard a defence of Keir Starmer's record this morning from Labour MP Toby Perkins, who told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg: "We'd be onto our seventh Prime Minister in ten years. I don't believe that this is a government that's manifestly failing."He took the Labour Party from its worst-ever defeat to its second-best-ever victory, and I think he deserves a bit of time."He added: "It is remarkable that we've managed to talk ourselves, on the back of really bad local election results, into this sort of scale of crisis."21st Jun08:58 BSTBusiness secretary would 'welcome' Andy Burnham to cabinetPeter Kyle said he had texted the new Makerfield MP since his "remarkable victory" - and added that he would welcome him to the cabinet table.Asked by Trevor Phillips on Sky News whether he would happy to see Burnham serve as a minister, he said "yes".Mr Kyle also said he had not recieved a response from the former Greater Manchester mayor, but that the text he sent was not one "that invited a response".21st Jun08:46 BSTPeter Kyle says 'nothing to believe' resignation reports are truePressed on reports Keir Starmer could announce his resignation tomorrow, Cabinet minister Peter Kyle tells Sky News: “I have nothing to believe they are true."I’m seeing a lot of a speculation out there."The only thing I can say with fact is that the PM is hard at work as he is every day - he’s one of the most hardworking people I’ve ever come across.”Business secretary Peter Kyle said he had 'nothing to believe' that the Prime Minister would resign(Image: Sky News)21st Jun08:39 BSTMinister says he hasn't spoken to Keir Starmer in 48 hoursBusiness secretary Peter Kyle has admitted he he hasn't spoken to Keir Starmer "since Friday" amid growing speculation about his future.Describing his "frank" conversation with the Prime Minister, he told Sky News: "I know for fact is that he has been engaging in conversations with a wide, wide range of people, including myself, and that he is - as well as working really hard over this weekend - I think he is making time to reflect on the political realities, challenges, and opportunities that he finds himself in."21st Jun08:21 BSTPrime Minister staying at Chequers this weekendThe Prime Minister has repeatedly vowed not to walk away from his post - even as chatter grew among Labour figures since Andy Burnham won the Makerfield by-election on Friday.The number of Labour MPs calling for Starmer to go has since topped 100 – just under a quarter of the party’s MPs – and includes some former supporters who signed a letter warning against a leadership contest just last month.He is understood to be staying at Chequers with his wife, Victoria, this weekend, and is reportedly reflecting on how to proceed.21st Jun08:07 BSTBurnham allies hoping for 'coronation' - but it might not be this simpleAllies of Andy Burnham are increasingly confident that they could see the new Makerfield MP become Prime Minister without the need for a leadership contest - a so-called 'coronation'.On Friday, former cabinet minister Louise Haigh called for a "managed and orderly transition," indicating that Burnham's team want Starmer to agree to a departure timetable over the coming days.But the Prime Minister has showed no signs that he is willing to let this happen.Even if Starmer were to resign, Burnham would still need the official backing of 81 Labour MPs to officially launch his race, and would have to win a leadership election against any other candidate that earned the same number of endorsements.Andy Burnham's allies hope he can become Labour leader without a contest(Image: Victoria Jones/Shutterstock)21st Jun07:42 BSTClaims Starmer set to resign dismissed by Number 10Number 10 has said Keir Starmer's position is unchanged from the start of the weekend and he is determined to fight on - despite reports in the Sunday newspapers that he could tender his resignation as early as tomorrow.In a call with Labour staff on Friday he urged the party to pull together, warning them against "plunging our party and our country into chaos by turning on each other and tearing apart our party and our movement."He told reporters: "If there is a contest, then yes I will run, I will stand. I've said repeatedly, I'm not going to walk away from that."Keir Starmer is not set to resign, Number 10 has said(Image: Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)21st Jun07:22 BSTLeadership talk 'enormously disruptive' to economy, former top civil servant warnsTalk of leadership challenges and changing Prime Ministers is "enormously disruptive" to the economy and "costs us money", a former top civil servant has warned.Simon Case, who served as Cabinet Sceretaryfrom 2020 to 2024, told the BBC this morning: "Uncertainty costs us; it actually costs us money. You can see already that the markets are responding."The amount of money that we're paying for the enormous levels of debt that this country has is going up with every moment of uncertainty."Equally, uncertainty costs us opportunities. All the time that politicians are having conversations amongst themselves about who should be leader and Prime Minister, time goes by where issues of real significance to people up and down the country - in the health service and education - are delayed. All that time is lost, and those opportunities to get on and fix problems go."21st Jun03:34 BSTLabour peer Charlie Falconer turns on StarmerCharlie Falconer, who served as lord chancellor under Tony Blair, turned on Sir Keir, urging him not to fight for his leadership by forcing a contest."My advice, sadly, would be 'Don't stand'," he told BBC Radio 4, saying that a battle would be "bad for the country" and that the prime minister has "absolutely no authority" because it is widely assumed that Mr Burnham will take over.21st Jun03:32 BSTKeir Starmer is determined to fight onDowning Street says Keir Starmer is determined to fight on.A senior ally told The Sun they believe there is “just a 25% chance he fights on now”, while The Observer cited a Labour peer who said they think Sir Keir sees that “stopping ‘chaos’ (as he rightly put it) is now not possible by staying.”No 10 said Sir Keir’s position remained unchanged from Friday, when he said he will not “walk away” from Downing Street and that he plans to stand in any potential contest.21st Jun02:44 BSTLabour peer advises Starmer not to stand in a leadership contestIn a blow to Sir Keir, Labour peer Charlie Falconer said Sir Keir has “absolutely no authority” because “everybody assumes” Mr Burnham is going to challenge him and win.He said he would advise Sir Keir not to stand in a leadership contest and instead agree a handover, preferably before the parliamentary recess on July 16, reports Press Association.21st Jun02:21 BSTA contest could begin as early as next weekSome in Westminster believe a contest could begin as early as next week, but allies of Mr Burnham favour a longer wait to allow them to prepare for government.It is understood that Mr Burnham’s camp wants Sir Keir to set out his plans in the coming days but would accept a timetable that kept him in No 10 until September.20th Jun22:34 BSTWhat would happen if Keir Starmer resigned?Keir Starmer has insisted he is "not going anywhere" after the number of Labour MPs calling on him to resign rose to over 100 in the wake of Andy Burnham's by-election victory.But what would happen if he did resign as leader of the Labour party?If he chose to step down with immediate effect, the cabinet, together with Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC), would appoint a senior minister member to serve as an interim Prime Minister until a leadership contest concludes.But as we saw with Conservative Prime Ministers David Cameron, Theresa May and Boris Johnson, an outgoing Prime Minister typically remains in office in a 'caretaker' capacity after they announce their intention to leave Number 10, only leaving when the party has chosen its next leader.Once the Labour party elects its new leader, the outgoing Prime Minister would formally tender their resignation to the King and advise them to invite the newly elected leader to form a government. The new leader then automatically becomes Prime Minister.Prime Minister Keir Starmer has insisted he is 'not going anywhere'(Image: Peter Macdiarmid/Pool The Times)20th Jun21:32 BSTAndy Burnham to hold crunch talks with PMAlexander Brown, the Mirror's Assistant Political Editor, writes:Andy Burnham will arrive in Westminster on Monday ahead of crunch talks with Keir Starmer about his leadership.The newly-elected Makerfield MP will be sworn in as an MP next week, and plans to speak with the PM to ask him to set out a timetable for his departure.Mr Starmer has repeatedly vowed to fight any leadership challenge, insisting he will not “ walk away”.But the scale of Mr Burnham’s by-election victory in Makerfield has prompted more backbenchers and Labour grandees to call for the PM to stand down.Read more: Andy Burnham faces crunch talks with PM as pressure grows on Keir StarmerAndy Burnham is set for crunch talks with the Prime Minister next week(Image: Getty Images)‌