The prime minister is facing an imminent challenge from Andy Burnham, fresh off his Makerfield election victory.
LONDON — Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer is sounding out his future with his Cabinet after Andy Burnham’s win in the Makerfield by-election put the two Labour politicians on a collision course. The assessments he’s received back have been grim.
Chief Whip Jonathan Reynolds discussed the prime minister’s bleak prospects with him during a face-to-face Downing Street meeting on Friday afternoon, four people with knowledge of their conversation told POLITICO. All were granted anonymity to discuss the private conversation.
One of the four people said: “If he continues to insist on digging in he will look like Comical Ali” — a reference to the former Iraqi information minister who overstated his country’s performance in the 2003 war.
Three of the four people suggested Reynolds had urged the PM to accept the widespread demands to set out a timetable for his departure. However, the fourth person said this characterization of the meeting was incorrect. Both No. 10 and Reynolds’ team declined to comment.
A fifth person, an MP, said they had been told ahead of the Downing Street meeting that Reynolds was preparing to have a “candid conversation” with Starmer.
Also on Friday, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told the PM during his ring-round of the Cabinet that he needs to set out a timetable, as first reported by the Financial Times. POLITICO confirmed the account with a person familiar with the conversation between the hitherto loyal ally who is nonetheless close with Burnham.
Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, and Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, have both previously urged the prime minister to set out a timetable for his departure.
Calls between Starmer and other top ministers are planned for the weekend.
The PM has insisted he will fight on after Burnham won a resounding victory that will bring him back to Westminster — a move the Greater Manchester mayor undertook specifically with the aim of returning to challenge Starmer, who has been weakened by repeated political missteps and devastating losses in recent local elections, for national leadership.
Burnham’s allies have said he will seek talks with Starmer next week in the hope of agreeing an orderly transition of power.
The PM held a virtual call Friday lunchtime with Labour staffers where he warned a leadership contest would plunge “our party and our country into chaos.” He added: “Let’s pull together as a party and a movement.”
Allies of Starmer have insisted that Burnham should play a key role in the forthcoming by-election campaign for his old job of mayor of Greater Manchester, which will only conclude on July 30. That, in the view of Starmer’s allies, would delay any internal leadership contest.
Burnham held off a challenge from Nigel Farage’s insurgent Reform UK party to win by more than 9,000 votes. Makerfield was once considered a Labour heartland, but the party was wiped out in Wigan council seats there contested in May’s local elections.
While the PM gauged his prospects, Burnham supporters spent Friday speaking to Labour MPs to assess their next move. Burnham will take his seat in parliament on Monday, two members of his team said.