Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing the most serious threat to his leadership yet after senior ministers reportedly urged him to set a timetable for his departure, while rival Andy Burnham’s return to parliament fuelled expectations of a succession battle within the governing Labour Party.
According to reports in the Financial Times and The Times, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and other cabinet ministers have told Starmer that it would be in the interests of both the country and the Labour Party to begin planning an orderly transition to a new leader. The reported intervention comes as Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, emerges as the frontrunner to replace Starmer following his return to Westminster.
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The Times reported that multiple ministers planned to tell Starmer that his “time is up” and urge him to set out a timetable for an “orderly transition”. The Financial Times said Alexander had personally argued that stepping aside would allow Labour to avoid a damaging internal struggle.
Starmer, however, has shown no sign of backing down. “If there is a contest … I will stand, and I’ve said repeatedly I’m not going to walk away,” Starmer told reporters in London, vowing to fight any leadership challenge.
BURNHAM’S RETURN CHANGES THE EQUATION
Pressure on Starmer intensified after Burnham secured a decisive victory in the Makerfield parliamentary seat in northwest England, a result widely viewed as strengthening his credentials as a potential Labour leader.
The scale of Burnham’s win has prompted more Labour lawmakers to publicly question whether Starmer should remain in office, with some arguing that an orderly handover could improve the party’s chances before the next general election.
Polls of Labour Party members suggest Burnham would be well positioned in a formal leadership contest, although some senior figures are hoping a divisive race can be avoided.
STARMER WARNS AGAINST CHAOS
Seeking to rally supporters, Starmer warned that a leadership battle could plunge both Labour and the country into instability.
“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,” he said during a call with Labour staff.
“That has never worked.” Starmer defended his record, pointing to closer ties with the European Union, efforts to stabilise the economy and measures aimed at reducing waiting times in the National Health Service.
Starmer has been under mounting pressure following Labour’s poor performance in recent local elections and the rise of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK in opinion polls.
About a quarter of Labour lawmakers are now reported to have urged Starmer to step down, while several senior ministers, including the defence and health secretaries, have already resigned.
Former health minister Wes Streeting has also warned that he could trigger a leadership contest unless Starmer provides clarity on when he intends to leave office.
Under Labour Party rules, a leadership challenge can be triggered if 20% of Labour’s parliamentary lawmakers — currently 81 MPs — formally back a single challenger.
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With inputs from Reuters
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
