UK PM Starmer says will back Labour Makerfield by-election choice 100%

(Alliance News) - Keir Starmer has insisted he will back Labour's Makerfield by-election candidate "100%" despite leadership hopeful Andy Burnham priming himself to stand in the race.

The UK prime minister vowed to support the contender "whoever they are" to see off the threat from Nigel Farage's Reform UK as he met staff at party headquarters on Monday morning.

After a week of turmoil following the May elections, Labour faces the unprecedented prospect of campaigning on behalf of the Greater Manchester Mayor, whose Commons bid is a direct stepping stone towards a tilt for the leadership.

Speaking on Monday, Starmer said his focus was on delivering for the public who wanted government to "get on with the job" after the results of local and devolved polls earlier this month showed that voters were "frustrated" with the pace of change.

"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," he told staffers.

"I am focused on the job that I was asked to do, which is to serve my country and to carry out my duties as prime minister of this country.

"Delivering for the very many people who voted us into office, who are saying: 'Just get on with it, get on with the job, get on with the change that I need to see in my life.'"

Addressing the by-election, he added: "Whoever they are I am going to support them 100% 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."

Starmer is said to be privately considering whether he will defend his leadership if a contest were launched, despite having publicly vowed to stand against any challengers.

Earlier on Monday, one of his most loyal Cabinet allies insisted he would fight on without setting out a timetable for his departure and urged Labour to "stop the own goals" after a week of internal strife.

In a stark warning to colleagues, the prime minister's deputy, David Lammy, said the ruling party would lose the next general election if the "internecine warfare" of the last 10 days continued.

Speaking to broadcasters, Lammy said he would also be campaigning for the mayor in the Makerfield by-election, which Burnham will need to contest and win to mount a challenge for No 10.

But he added: "Let me be really clear, Keir Starmer remains the most resilient person I know in my life.

"I spoke to him twice yesterday. He has a strength of character, a fighting experience. There will be no timetables. What there is is getting on with the business of government."

The Deputy Prime Minister said Labour had scored a "spectacular own goal" in the 10 days after a local election mauling that prompted mounting calls for the prime minister's resignation.

"Now is the time to stop the own goals, to get on the pitch, to pass the ball amongst ourselves, to play in the right direction, to score some goals on behalf of the British public," he told Sky News.

"Introspection and internecine warfare – effectively, some of our colleagues lighting the match and standing in the petrol – that is not what's going to deliver for the British people," Lammy told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"That's not what's going to deliver for the British people. What that will usher in is Farage."

He added: "This is not a sixth form debate. It is delivery on behalf of the British people."

Starmer "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.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy appeared to veer away from the government line that Starmer would stand against his rivals as she spoke to broadcasters on Sunday, describing the move as "a very personal decision for him".

Asked about her comments on Monday, Lammy also declined to confirm the prime minister would run in any contest but insisted he had been "crystal clear he fights on".

"He has my full support," Lammy said.

The senior minister, who is also Justice secretary, repeatedly refused to be drawn on whether he favoured rejoining the EU after a battle over reversing Brexit was ignited among the rivals vying to oust Starmer as prime minister.

Lammy, who has previously suggested there would be economic benefits of returning to the customs union, insisted he was bound by Cabinet collective responsibility and the government remained "absolutely committed" to its Brexit red lines.

Wes Streeting, who resigned as health secretary last week, signalled he wanted to see Britain return to the EU as he announced on Saturday he would stand in any Labour leadership contest.

Supporters of Burnham are reportedly furious with the ex-minister as they believe it is a deliberate attempt to undermine the mayor's campaign in the Leave-voting constituency of Makerfield which would play into the hands of Reform UK, which will closely contest the seat.

Labour MP Jonathan Hinder said on Monday it was a "staggering level of out of touch" to think the party should reopen the debate on Brexit.

He said the party was in "an existential crisis" and had taken a beating in its working-class heartlands from Reform UK, which "until recently was called the Brexit Party".

Burnham sought to play down his own support for rejoining the trade bloc as he took part in a media blitz over the weekend, arguing there was a "long-term case" for advocating to return but insisting he was not campaigning on that issue.

The Culture Secretary rebuked her former Cabinet colleague Streeting for making Europe a centre-point of his campaign to succeed Starmer, describing it as "odd".

"If rejoining the EU is the answer, then essentially what we're saying to people is, 'life was fine in 2015, we just need to go back there'," added Nandy, who is seen as an ally to the Greater Manchester mayor.

Reform UK, which is the second placed party in Makerfield, plans to make hay out of Burnham's previous support for rejoining the EU as it knocks doors in the constituency.

Starmer's Labour government has promised not to rejoin the customs union, single market or return to freedom of movement.

On Monday, Josh Simons, who announced last week he wanted the mayor to stand in his Makerfield seat, officially vacated the Commons by being made Steward & Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern under the archaic procedure required to quit as an MP.

Applications for Labour's Makerfield candidacy close on Monday and the party's ruling National Executive Committee will endorse a candidate on Thursday.

By Nina Lloyd, Helen Corbett and David Lynch, Press Association Political Staff

Press Association: News

source: PA

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