UK's Starmer mulls 'political realities' after Burnham by-election
A member of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Cabinet said it would be "delusional" to pretend there was no threat to his position. But he
A member of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Cabinet said it would be "delusional" to pretend there was no threat to his position. But he also said he had no information suggesting he might quit, as a newspaper reported. British Business Minister Peter Kyle on Sunday said that Keir Starmer was reflecting on the "political realities" after a potential rival for the prime minister's post, Andy Burnham, won a by-election and a seat in the House of Commons in an election on Thursday. Sitting in parliament would enable Burnham in theory to be prime minister or to trigger a hostile contest for the leadership of the Labour Party, and by extension the top political job in the UK. Starmer has faced increasing pressure as his and Labour's popularity has waned since his 2024 election win, particularly since a poor showing in local and regional elections for Labour last month. Speculation about who will occupy 10 Downing Street long term has been rife at least since Labour's defeats in local and regional elections last month Image: Jordan Pettitt/PA Images/picture alliance What did Kyle say about Starmer in his Sunday media rounds? Kyle told both Sky and the BBC in separate interviews on Sunday that he had no reason to believe Starmer was planning to announce his resignation on Monday — as left-leaning weekly newspaper The Observer had reported. "Today, as in very other day I've ever known Keir, he is out there working hard," Kyle told Sky News.
"At the same time, he is also trying to create the space where he can think and reflect on the political realities and challenges — and the opportunities — that are before us." He did not repeat the line emanating from Downing Street late last week that Starmer would contest any leadership challenge, should one emerge. In a later BBC interview, the minister acknowledged that at least some forces within his party were maneuvering against Starmer. "I don't want to come on here and be delusional that there is no process, there are no forces at work which are challenging the prime minister as leader. That is clearly the case," he said. Burnham' won in a by-election with unsually high media attention and turnout — it was even large enough to attract veteran comedy candidate 'Count Binface,' who tends to try to run against sitting prime ministers Image: Jon Super/AP Photo/picture alliance Why has the focus on Starmer's position flared up again now? Labour's Andy Burnham winning Thursday's Makerfield by-election with a fairly comfortable margin — and delivering a rare bit of good news for the party in recent months — revived the speculation that was rampant immediately after May's election defeats in Scotland, Wales and on English local councils. Kyle was facing pointed questions on TV on Sunday because of a report in the left-leaning Observer newspaper, released late on Saturday, claiming the prime minister was considering his future and could make an announcement as soon as Monday.
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