Keir Starmer says he wants to offer Burnham ‘big role’ in government to avoid leadership contest – UK politics live
Former health secretary Wes Streeting also threatened to launch a leadership contest if the prime minister did not set out a timetable to step downWe have not heard yet how Andy Burnham will respond to Keir Starmer’s offer of a “big role” in government (see 8.55am), but Dan Hodges, the Mail on Sunday columnist, has had a good guess at what the answer will be.Burnham’s response to this will be that the best way for Labour to hold the Manchester mayoralty is for Starmer to announce he’s stepping down. Otherwise he will effectively be on the ballot, and will allow Reform to re-run their “Vote Reform, dump Starmer” slogan.Keir Starmer says, the priority after Friday is winning the Manchester Mayoralty. So is it that easier for Labour to do if the message is:a) “Keir Starmer is going to try and cling on as leader. Vote Labour”. Continue reading...