Keir Starmer has been under pressure over his performance as prime minister. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/AFP/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenKeir Starmer has been under pressure over his performance as prime minister. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/AFP/Getty ImagesStarmer says he will stand in any Labour leadership contest against BurnhamPrime minister suggests he will not ‘walk away’ despite Burnham’s comfortable victory in Makerfield byelection
Keir Starmer has said he will stand in a Labour leadership contest should one be triggered after Andy Burnham’s decisive victory in the Makerfield byelection, adding he will not “walk away”.
The prime minister’s comments follow Burnham’s victory with 55% of the vote in Makerfield. In his victory speech, Burnham said the result “could be a turning point” and that people had “voted for change, they have voted for more power for the north and everywhere forgotten by Westminster”.
Some Burnham supporters had hoped the prime minister might decide against contesting a leadership race. But Starmer’s intervention could set up a more protracted contest. As the sitting Labour leader he will automatically be on the ballot if he decides to take part.
Speaking to reporters at an event in north London, Starmer said: “If there is a contest, then yes, I will stand.
“I have said repeatedly, I am not going to walk away from that. ”
