Sir Keir Starmer has told ministers he will fight a leadership contest if called, insisting he can defeat Andy Burnham despite polls showing just 37% backing.
Burnham backed by 59% of Labour members poll (Image: Getty)
Sir Keir Starmer has told ministers that he will fight a leadership contest if one is called, and insisted that he can defeat Andy Burnham. The prime minister could face the internal ballot within weeks, should his rival Mr Burnham win the Makerfield by-election – but has told colleagues he will not resign.
Mr Burnham is widely expected to challenge Sir Keir for the leadership, though he may choose to leave any move until after the contest to elect a new mayor of Greater Manchester has been decided. The by-election was triggered when a Labour MP, Josh Simons, resigned, opening a path back to Westminster for Mr Burnham.
Mr Burnham had tried to return to Parliament – where he had served before becoming mayor – through the Gorton and Denton by-election, but Labour’s National Executive Committee blocked him from standing.
Sir Keir is reported to have told ministers that he was “in it to win it” and that he would fight any leadership race that was called.
As the incumbent leader of the Labour Party, he would be guaranteed a place on the ballot paper if he chooses to fight.
“If there is a contest then I’m going to fight it. I’m not going to walk away. I am going to fight to win,” he said, according to BBC Newsnight.
One minister told the Financial Times: “He said if there’s a contest he’ll stand to win. Everyone that spoke was strongly supportive and there were lots of worries about a change of leader leading to rising pressure for a general election.”
Starmer vows to fight on in leadership battle (Image: Getty)
Yet many insiders reportedly believe that the prime minister does not have the support he would need to see off a challenge from Mr Burnham, the Manchester mayor.
He is said to be sounding out how much support he can count on among backbenchers and ministers ahead of next week’s by-election.
One minister loyal to Sir Keir said: “Keir feels very strongly that you don’t just walk away and hand the country to someone who doesn’t even know what the fiscal rules are without a fight.”
A recent YouGov poll found that 59% of Labour members would back Mr Burnham, with just 37% supporting Sir Keir.