PM under pressure from Labour MPs and ministers to set timetable for exit

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under increasing pressure from within his own party to announce a timetable for his departure from Downing Street. This pressure intensified following Andy Burnham's decisive victory in the Makerfield by-election, where he significantly boosted Labour's vote share.

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I was elected to serve my country with a mandate that we secured at a general election two years ago.

A growing number of Labour Members of Parliament are urging Starmer to plan a handover to Burnham, the former Greater Manchester mayor, potentially avoiding a contentious leadership contest. Allies of Burnham have advised Starmer to use the weekend to reflect and consider the views of his cabinet ministers, MPs, and family.

However, Starmer has stated his intention to contest any leadership challenge and declared he will not "walk away" from his position. He has also urged Labour staff members to "pull together" and avoid plunging the party and country into chaos, drawing a parallel to the perceived disarray of the previous government.

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if there is a contest, yes I will run. I will stand and I have said repeatedly I am not going to walk away from that.

Despite Starmer's resolve, the scale of Burnham's victory in Makerfield, where he defeated the Reform UK candidate by over 9,000 votes, has amplified the demands for a leadership change. Burnham himself, celebrating his win, spoke of an "opportunity to turn the tide" and "change British politics forever."

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The one thing we've got to avoid doing is plunging our party and our country into chaos by turning on each other and tearing apart our party and our movement.

Some within the party, like Labour MP Jo White, believe Starmer needs to "consider his position very, very carefully" over the weekend. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander reportedly suggested to Starmer that he set out a timetable for leaving office, though her spokesperson declined to comment on the private conversation. The focus also shifts to the upcoming Greater Manchester mayoralty election on July 30, which is now vacant.

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opportunity to turn the tide… make the country feel like it's working again