Listen: 5 Live Sport - The Making of Jannik Sinner
Tune in to Radio 5 Live for 'The Making of Jannik Sinner'!
BBC News1 min read
Will Starmer go – and if so, how? Four scenarios in the battle for No 10
TL;DR
Keir Starmer faces pressure to resign as prime minister amid calls from MPs and ministers. Several scenarios outline how and when he might be removed from office.
Key points
- Keir Starmer's authority as prime minister is under pressure.
- Calls for Starmer to step down are coming from MPs and ministers.
- Andy Burnham is seen as a potential successor but is not currently in parliament.
- A leadership contest requires support from over 80 colleagues.
- Josh Simons' resignation may allow Burnham to enter the race.
Mentioned in this story
Keir StarmerAndy BurnhamJosh Simons
While Keir Starmer’s authority as prime minister feels terminally undermined after calls from MPs and departing ministers to step down, he remains inside No 10 – for now. So how, and when, might he be removed? Here are some possible scenarios.
-
1. A contest without Burnham
The Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, the probable favourite among Labour MPs, is not in parliament. Any resolution in the coming weeks would require a sitting MP to trigger a contest by getting the backing of 80-plus colleagues, or persuading Starmer to set a timetable to quit.
The MP for Makerfield in Greater Manchester, Josh Simons, announced on Thursday afternoon that he was giving up his seat and wanted Burnham to take it. It remains to be seen if Downing Street will let Burnham stand, and if it does, whether he would win.
If that does not happen for any reason, then there could be an impasse. Wes Streeting, who resigned as health secretary on Thursday, had reportedly pledged to start a contest but seemingly failed to raise the necessary support among MPs. Other possible challengers – such as Angela Rayner and Ed Miliband – do not seem to be mobilising fully.
But things could change quickly, for example if one of the promised new tranches of documents about Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US brings more damaging revelations.
It is worth noting that if someone did launch a formal challenge, Starmer could fight them – and he could then win a vote of Labour members.
-
2. A contest with Burnham back
If Downing Street allows the Labour machine to endorse Burnham as the candidate in Makerfield, it would take some weeks for the byelection to happen. A win would send him back to the Commons.
Letting Burnham run for MP is possible. While Downing Street made sure he was blocked from standing in the Gorton and Denton byelection, Starmer would be under huge pressure to change course this time around.
Again, if a leadership contest followed, Starmer might opt to fight and could win. The party uses the single transferable vote system, where members rank candidates by preference. It would not be inconceivable for Starmer to win a three-way race based on second-choice votes from people who did not want one of the alternatives taking over.
Q&A
What are the scenarios for Keir Starmer's potential resignation?
The article outlines multiple scenarios regarding how and when Keir Starmer might be removed from office, including the need for a sitting MP to trigger a leadership contest.
Who is Andy Burnham and why is he significant in this context?
Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, is considered a favorite among Labour MPs to succeed Starmer, but he is currently not in parliament.
What does it take for a leadership contest to be triggered in the Labour Party?
A leadership contest requires a sitting MP to gain the backing of over 80 colleagues or persuade Starmer to set a timetable for his resignation.
What impact does Josh Simons' resignation have on the Labour leadership situation?
Josh Simons' resignation from his seat opens the possibility for Andy Burnham to stand for election, which could influence the leadership dynamics within the Labour Party.
