British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he would stand in any leadership contest, after potential rival Andy Burnham won a parliamentary seat to return to Westminster, paving the way for a challenge.
Mr Starmer told reporters that he did not think a leadership challenge would be good for the country but added: “If there is a contest … then yes I will run, I will stand,” reports RTE.
“I’ve said repeatedly I’m not going to walk away from that.”
Mr Burnham said Labour had “a final chance to change” after his decisive win in the Makerfield by-election, reports RTE.
Allies of Mr Burnham called on Mr Starmer to hand over power after he defied national trends to increase Labour’s share of the vote in a seat where Nigel Farage’s Reform UK had made sweeping gains in last month’s local elections.
Mr Burnham defeated Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon by 9,231 votes, up from 5,399 in 2024, with Labour’s vote share increasing by 9.61%, reports RTE.
In his victory speech, he urged his party to act now, saying there would be no second chance.
He said: “Everyone knows that politics isn’t working.
“Everyone can feel that the country isn’t where it should be. Tonight could, just could, be the turning point,” reports RTE.
In a direct message to Labour MPs he said: “I do say to my own party: this is a final chance to change.
“This is what people said directly to me on the hundreds of doorsteps that I stood on. We must hear it, we must act upon it and we must get it right. There will be no second chance,” reports RTE.
Mr Burnham gave up the Greater Manchester mayoralty to become Makerfield MP, winning the seat vacated by Josh Simons in order to allow him to return to Westminster and seek to become Prime Minister.
In an attempt to address suggestions he was seeking the seat solely to further his own ambitions, he said: “It will never be a stepping stone to me, but instead will be my touchstone.
“A Makerfield test at the heart of British politics will make sure that the places Westminster has neglected will now get fairness,” reports RTE.
Cabinet minister Lisa Nandy said she wanted Mr Burnham “back at the top table.”
The Culture Secretary said: “What Andy’s shown here is that there is something that he brings, a willingness to go out and fight for the change that people need, to take on any system and any person who stands in the way and to be bold and to wear his heart on his sleeve, and people have responded.
“I think that with him back in the top team, at the top table, helping to drive that change, I think we’ll be in a really strong position,” reports RTE.
Mr Burnham has indicated he will not accept a position in Mr Starmer’s Government.
He is not expected to launch a leadership challenge immediately, instead hoping Mr Starmer will conclude that he has no option but to relinquish the keys to No 10, reports RTE.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin congratulated Mr Burnham on his by-election win.
“I congratulate him on his success,” Mr Martin told reporters as he arrived for the second day of an EU summit in Brussels, reports RTE.
“I know Andy, I’ve met him on a number of occasions. He has taken a particular interest in Ireland, and he has come to see us on a number of occasions, particularly on the economy and in respect of his role as a mayor in Manchester. He was particularly focused on Irish economic policy and development.”
The Taoiseach said he had met Mr Burnham at an Anglo-Irish summit in Liverpool two years ago: “Andy was there with Keir Starmer. It was very positive,” reports RTE.
“It was a solid victory in the by-election, which shows what’s possible, despite all of the fragmentation and challenges of modern politics.
“He campaigned well and effectively and things can happen. So I wish him well in his parliamentary career. Beyond that, I’ve no further comment,” reports RTE.
Mr Burnham’s supporters believe the scale of his victory will put increased pressure on Mr Starmer to stand down.
Former cabinet minister Louise Haigh urged the Prime Minister to set out an “orderly and managed transition” of power, reports RTE.
She told the BBC she hoped he will “do what’s best for both the country and the Labour Party.”
But the Prime Minister has repeatedly insisted he has no intention of leaving No 10, and is reported to have amassed a war chest to fund his campaign to fight any leadership challenge, reports RTE.
He has the backing of a group of private donors, with fundraising having ramped up in the last two days and total pledges running into six figures, sources said.
Mr Burnham has indicated he would enter a leadership contest if one was triggered, something that would require 81 MPs to line up behind a single candidate, reports RTE.
Another of Mr Starmer’s main rivals, former health minister Wes Streeting, said this week he would force a contest soon unless the Prime Minister announced when he would step down.
In the other Westminster by-election results, the Conservatives secured victory in Aberdeen South, with Douglas Lumsden taking the seat vacated by the SNP’s former Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, who won election to the Scottish Parliament in May, reports RTE.
In Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, the SNP’s Lara Bird held the seat vacated when Stephen Gethins became an MSP.
Starmer’s former communications director thinks he would lose to Burnham
James Lyons, former Director of Strategic Communications in Mr Starmer’s government, said there is probably no doubt in the Prime Minister’s own mind that he believes he is the right person to lead the country at this time.
Mr Lyons said that Mr Starmer may see it as his duty to follow through and keep fighting, but that if there is a leadership challenge, he will lose to Mr Burnham, reports RTE.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr Lyons said many Labour MPs hold this view and need to make it clear to Mr Starmer that he simply “can’t carry on.”
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