Starmer will not walk away if Burnham enters Labour leadership race, No 10 says
8 reported
Downing Street has stated that Prime Minister Keir Starmer “will not walk away” if Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham officially enters a Labour leadership contest. Burnham, who is standing in the Makerfield byelection, said on Question Time that he would seek to join a leadership race if one is running, following comments from Wes Streeting. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy expressed support for Starmer, saying the prime minister has been clear he would fight in a contest. Lammy also said he has given full loyalty to Starmer and to every previous Labour leader. The Guardian reports that Burnham has signalled he would begin transforming England’s social care system this year if he became prime minister. Separately, Lammy urged tech billionaire Elon Musk to stop tweeting about the murder of Henry Nowak, a case Starmer has accused Musk of using to create division with far-right themes.
What’s reported
Downing Street issued a statement saying Starmer “will not walk away” from a leadership contest.
Andy Burnham said on Question Time: “I think Wes Streeting seems to have launched a leadership contest, so if that is running, I would seek to join it.”
Burnham is standing in the Makerfield byelection and has publicly said for the first time he would consider a Labour leadership bid.
David Lammy told LBC: “The prime minister, by the way, has been absolutely clear: if there is a contest, he’ll be in it.”
Lammy also said he has supported every Labour leader and has “full loyalty” to Starmer.
In a Guardian interview, Burnham signalled he would begin fixing England’s social care system this year if he became prime minister.
Lammy urged Elon Musk to “step back” from tweeting about the murder of Henry Nowak, saying Musk should focus on a Starlink IPO.
Starmer has accused Musk of “interfering in our politics” and attempting to create division with social media posts about the Nowak murder.
Key figures
Keir Starmer, Prime Minister
Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester Mayor
David Lammy, Deputy Prime Minister
Wes Streeting, MP (mentioned as having launched a leadership contest)
Elon Musk, tech billionaire and X owner
Henry Nowak, murder victim (mentioned in context of Musk’s tweets)
Sources: The Guardian
