SIR Keir Starmer has pledged to throw his “100 per cent” support behind Andy Burnham’s by-election bid – even though it could spell curtains for his own premiership.
The PM today insisted he was focused on “getting on with the job” despite intense jockeying by his leadership rivals.
Sir Keir has pledged to throw ‘100% support’ behind Burnham Credit: Getty
Burnham is expected to challenge the PM if he becomes an MP next month Credit: PA
Mr Burnham has not ruled out challenging Sir Keir if he wins in Makerfield next month and returns to as an MP.
While Labour is yet to formally select the Manchester Mayor for the seat, the party’s ruling body have signalled they would not stand in his way.
Speaking to party staff today, Sir Keir said: “We now have an important by-election coming up. It is Labour versus Reform. We will know very shortly who the candidate is.
“Whoever they are I am going to support them one hundred per cent and I want every member, everyone in our movement to support them.
“A Labour candidate to beat Reform. That is the fight that we are in.”
Sir Keir is clinging onto No10 by his fingernails after almost 100 Labour MPs called for him to quit over the party’s disastrous local election results.
resigned as Secretary last week with a stinging criticism of the government and declared his candidacy if a leadership contest is eventually triggered.
The weakened PM today admitted it has “not been easy circumstances in the last 10 days” but was concentrating on his “duties” in Downing Street.
He said: “The election results tell us that people are frustrated, they don’t feel that their lives have changed quickly enough.
“We need to build up the urgency of what we do. We need a bit more hope in there.
“And we need to remember at all times what we are here to do.
“We were elected to government to serve the people of this country.”
The Makerfield by-election will be a straight shoot-out between Labour and Reform and is expected to be very close.
is expected to perform well in the Leave-voting constituency, but Mr Burnham is also popular locally.
The contest is already being mired in a row over after Mr Streeting declared he wants to rejoin the EU.
It forced Mr Burnham – who has made similar remarks in the past – on the defensive as he prepared to stand in the Brexiteer seat.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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