'Orderly transition': Yorkshire MPs urge Sir Keir Starmer to step aside for Andy Burnham
Andy Burnham defied national trends to increase Labour’s share of the vote in a seat where Nigel Farage’s Reform UK made sweeping gains in last month’s local elections.
Yorkshire MPs have urged Sir Keir Starmer to set out an “orderly transition of power” after Andy Burnham won the Makerfield by-election.
Mr Burnham defied national trends to increase Labour’s share of the vote in a seat where Nigel Farage’s Reform UK made sweeping gains in last month’s local elections.
The Greater Manchester Mayor, who will have to resign that role, won almost 55 per cent of the vote, more than the combined total of the right-wing Reform UK and Restore Britain candidate.
It has led to Labour MPs declaring that Mr Burnham is the leader who can take on Mr Farage.
But Sir Keir insisted he will not “walk away” from Downing Street, setting Labour up for a showdown over the premiership as the outgoing Greater Manchester Mayor insisted his win was “the change moment” for Britain.
Speaking to reporters at an event in north London today, Sir Keir said: “If there is a contest, then yes, I will stand.
“I have said repeatedly, I am not going to walk away from that.”
The Prime Minister said he had not yet directly spoken with Mr Burnham since his victory, but added that he will, and had already sent a message of congratulations to him.
Sir Keir also said his rival’s by-election victory was evidence “the tide is turning on Reform, that they can’t now win by-elections”.
He reiterated his message in a call to Labour staffers across the country at lunchtime, saying the party needs to “pull together” and “take the fight” to Reform UK.
It is only expected to be a matter of time before Mr Burnham triggers a leadership contest.
He will easily clear the hurdle of having 81 MPs supporting him, with many already urging Sir Keir to announce an “orderly transition”.
Former Cabinet minister and Sheffield Heeley MP Louise Haigh, who ran Mr Burnham’s by-election campaign, is being tipped for a top job in any future Cabinet the new Makerfield MP assembles.
She told the BBC: “I hope that he [Sir Keir] will consider an orderly and managed transition.
“We have said that the party is in an existential crisis and things cannot continue.
“It was quite clear, after the local elections, unfortunately he considered that business as usual would suffice.
A trio of Yorkshire women helped power Andy Burnham to his emphatic by-election victory.
Louise Haigh, the former transport secretary, managed Mr Burnham’s successful campaign.
The 38-year-old was an ever present on the streets of the towns of Makerfield alongside her dog Milo, a golden lurcher-whippet cross.
She told GB News: “Andy Burnham showed just how we can stem the tide on Reform.”
At his victory speech this morning, Mr Burnham paid tribute to the Sheffield Heeley MP saying: “This campaign was won by a powerhouse of northern women.”
Doncaster Central MP Sally Jameson provided key support to Mr Burnham through the by-election’s ground campaign.
She flanked Ms Haigh to the left of Mr Burnham, pictured above, as he was speaking this morning
Former Yorkshire and the Humber Labour Party staffer and Ed Miliband adviser Grace Pritchard has been named as Mr Burnham's official spokesperson.
“Andy has … shown tonight what a changed Labour Party can bring and how we can beat the rise of Reform because without that optimism and without that on the ballot paper then we will see a Reform prime minister at the next general election.”
Leeds Central and Headingley MP Alex Sobel reiterated this call, saying: “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.”
Fellow West Yorkshire MP Jon Trickett added: “In the wake of the by-election, it's clear that Farage and his hard right acolytes can be defeated.
"However, there can be no more messing about. Keir Starmer has to immediately state a timetable for his departure as leader, as he is an obstacle to defeating Farage at the next general election."
At a Labour rally following his win, Mr Burnham said: “We’ve been on a path for 40 years that simply hasn’t worked for people and places in this part of the world, and this now is the change moment.
“We have an opportunity to turn the tide, to make the country feel like it’s working again, to make people see that politics can make a positive difference, to make people feel hope again.”