Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing growing pressure to step down as Labour leader, with calls for Andy Burnham to take over after his by-election win in Makerfield earlier this week. Burnham’s victory, seen as a strong response to the far-right challenge from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, has added to talk of a change at the top.
Starmer has insisted he will fight any leadership challenge and said Labour must stay united. But speculation over his future has grown after reports of dissent within his own Cabinet, with some suggesting he could leave 10 Downing Street as early as next week.
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Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Starmer said: “I was elected with a considerable mandate to serve the country at a general election two years ago.” He added, “There isn’t a leadership contest at the moment, but as I have said on many, many occasions, I don’t think that’s a good thing for the country to plunge us into chaos.” Referring to Burnham’s win, Starmer said: “I would also add that now that Andy (Burnham) has won (in Makerfield), which is really good because he is a huge asset to us… It is important that we pull together.” He also said that if there is a contest, he will stand and will not walk away.
Even so, questions around his position have continued. According to The Guardian, the number of Labour MPs backing Burnham as the next leader is moving closer to 300. Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle told reporters on Sunday, when asked about Starmer’s plans: “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.”
Several possibilities are being discussed for the coming days and weeks. If Starmer resigns, he could stay on as prime minister during a transition before handing over to a new Labour leader who would also become prime minister. Another option would be for him to quit immediately, with a Cabinet member stepping in as caretaker until the party completes the election for a new leader. Potential challengers, including former health secretary Wes Streeting, would need the backing of at least 20 per cent of Labour MPs and support from either 5 per cent of constituency Labour parties or at least three affiliated Labour organisations or trade unions.
If Starmer leaves Downing Street, Britain would be looking for its seventh prime minister in 10 years, after a period of quick leadership changes under the previous Conservative government. The uncertainty comes less than two years after Labour’s July 2024 general election win, when Starmer secured a majority of 174. In recent months, his premiership has been hit by controversy, including the appointment of former Labour grandee Peter Mandelson as US ambassador despite known links with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, along with domestic policy decisions and U-turns on taxes and social benefits.
Burnham, a former Cabinet minister who later became mayor of Greater Manchester, is due to return to Parliament on Monday. After his by-election win, he said it was Labour’s “last chance to change” and promised to “lay out a new path for Britain”. He also called for an end to “trickle-down economics”, saying it “didn’t trickle down very much at all”. “We do need to bring down water bills, energy bills, rail fares, just as we’ve brought down bus fares in Greater Manchester to make life more affordable for people,” he said. The coming days are expected to be crucial as pressure on Starmer and support for Burnham continue to shape Labour’s next move.
With PTI Inputs
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
