Ministers turn on Starmer as Labour MPs demand Burnham ‘coronation’ as PM

Ministers are calling for urgent meetings with Sir Keir Starmer to urge him to quit to make way for Andy Burnham after his stunning victory at the Makerfield by-election.

Labour MPs are clamouring for a “coronation” for the former Greater Manchester mayor as prime minister to prevent a drawn-out leadership battle that could crush the party’s general election hopes.

Ministers have told The Independent they plan to tell tell Sir Keir he must set out a timetable to leave No 10, with cabinet members, including Yvette Cooper, Ed Miliband and Shabana Mahmood preparing to repeat their earlier demands that he do so, in the wake of Mr Burnham’s victory.

But a defiant Keir Starmer has refused to step down and made it clear he will fight any leadership contest, calling on the party “to pull together” and “avoid plunging the country into chaos”.

After beating Nigel Farage’s Reform with almost 55 per cent of the vote, Mr Burnham pledged to “lay out a new path for Britain”, prioritising the economy, reindustrialisation and education, at a victory rally where he was buoyed by a cheering crowd of supporters.

He said his landslide victory was “the last chance to save Labour” after the party had slid to record low polling results following its victory in the 2024 general election under Sir Keir’s leadership.

Mr Burnham promised an end to “trickle-down” economics and an “unfair” immigration system and vowed to push for the reindustrialisation of Britain’s cities, use public procurement to boost British businesses and bring in work placements for all 16 to18-year-olds.

He said that people “did not give me a blank cheque”, adding: “We need an economy that works for everybody, not a few for people in far flung places. It is about time we backed British business and industry.”

But Sir Keir was clear that he is going nowhere without having his hand forced and still plans to fight a leadership election.

He said: “Let’s pull together as a party and a movement. The one thing we’ve got to avoid doing is plunging our party and our country into chaos by turning on each other and tearing apart our party and our movement. That has never worked. That’s what the last government did. We need to learn that lesson.”

Even though internal Labour polling in Makerfield suggested that the prospect of Mr Burnham replacing Sir Keir was the top reason people were voting for him, Sir Keir tried to take credit for Reform being “on the run”.

Meanwhile, ministers have confirmed they will tell Sir Keir that he needs to quit, while previous loyalists are also said to be considering interventions. Transport secretary Heidi Alexander had a conversation with Sir Keir on Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, deputy leader Lucy Powell and culture secretary Lisa Nandy are already seen as part of “team Burnham”.

Former cabinet minister Louise Haigh, a key lieutenant for Mr Burnham, has also called for him to go. “People in Makerfield have shown that they don’t want Reform they want a changed Labour, they want hope and optimism,” she added.

There are also expected to be representations made to former health secretary Wes Streeting to cut a deal with Mr Burnham, instead of pushing his own planned leadership bid.

The size of Mr Burnham’s victory margin, by 10,000 votes in Makerfield, has put to bed talk of the need for a Labour leadership contest in the minds of many Labour MPs and figures who are now calling for a “coronation” of the so-called “King of the North”.

Liverpool Riverside MP Kim Johnson said: “There definitely needs to be a coronation now. But more important is that we consider Labour Party democracy and reestablishing broad church in the party and ending factionalism.”

Karl Turner, who has been suspended from Labour for opposing plans to scrap the right to a jury trial but is expected to be brought back by Mr Burnham, said: “Keir Starmer just isn’t up to it. There needs to be a coronation.”

Labour MP Alex Sobel said: “Andy Burnham has proven his credentials in putting forward a Labour vision voters can rally around, the prime minister must think about what is best for the country and that is now clearly for an orderly transition of power to allow Labour members to elect a new leader.”

A Labour MP on the right of the party who had planned to be part of a different candidate’s leadership team, conceded: “I think a coronation is looking very likely now but I am not sure what it will look like.”

Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell was in tears on LBC listening to Mr Burnham’s victory speech. He said: “Keir [Starmer] has to recognise that it is time to move on. Let’s plan it properly, let’s not divide the party, let’s try and do it with a bit of dignity and what we describe in the party as comradeship.”

Another MP told The Independent: “It has been over for Keir for some time now we need to make a change with a minimum of fuss. Andy’s win and the margin makes it inevitable that he becomes leader now.”

Another said: “Wes [Streeting] should just cut a deal with Burnham so we don’t have to have a long drawn out contest and get on with governing.”

Tony Blair’s former director of communication Alastair Campbell added: “These are not normal times and this was not a normal by-election. Pressure on Keir Starmer grows because MPs see in Burnham the possibility of stopping Reform and reversing sense of pessimism. A 23 per cent swing since May locals, and the biggest by-election turnout differential since 1958! Not to be sniffed at. Boldness has been rewarded.”

Meanwhile, trade union leaders, some of Labour biggest backers, have also pushed for a speedy change. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The win for Andy Burnham in Makerfield is a glimmer of hope but it must not be taken as a business as usual mandate.

“It is clear that there now needs to be an orderly timetable for a leadership election and Keir Starmer must do the right thing and step down.”

FBU general secretary Steve Wright added: “Andy now has a mandate to take on Farage and break with austerity by embracing policies to tax the super rich to properly fund public services and pay workers.”