Search

Starmer ally admits prime minister is ‘unpopular’ but warns of ‘chaos’ if leadership contest triggered – UK politics live

Keir Starmer in the Commons on Wednesday. Photograph: House of Commons/AFP/Getty Images A leadership challenge seems all but inevitable, with Greater Manchester mayor **Andy Burnham

Burnham to launch byelection campaign as Green candidate quits after just nine hours – UK politics live

Andy Burnham out canvassing ahead of the byelection Photograph: Ryan Jenkinson/Getty Images He is widely expected to challenge **Keir Starmer** for the [Labour](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/labour) leadership

Energy bills, business rates and HS2: What are Burnham's potential policies?

Andy Burnham's victory in the Makerfield by-election means there is now a real prospect he will challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the leadership

Labour likely to win next election with Burnham as leader, say party members – UK politics live

Andy Burnham found a potential seat, meaning that, if Burnham can win the byelection, a leadership challenge has not been averted, just postponed. We don’t have any byelection polling from Makerfield yet. But last

US-Iran peace talks abruptly cancelled amid renewed Israeli strikes in Lebanon | First Thing

Andy Burnham, is [returning to Westminster](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jun/19/andy-burnham-wins-makerfield-byelection-paving-way-labour-leadership-challenge)** after winning a byelection, paving the way for a likely leadership challenge to the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer

Wes Streeting says Starmer ‘behind the curve’ on under-16s social media ban – UK politics live

leadership challenge and he said he was only holding back to allow [Andy Burnham](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/andyburnham) the chance to return to parliament, in the Makerfield byelection on 18 June. Here is the agenda

Starmer is not setting out timetable for his departure, says David Lammy

leadership speculation. While allies of Starmer [have suggested he is](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/17/andy-burnham-faces-perilous-race-to-win-makerfield-byelection-allies-say) potentially willing to step aside if Andy Burnham wins next month’s Makerfield byelection and no other challenger emerges, Lammy insisted this

Andy Burnham wins key UK by-election, paving way to challenge Keir Starmer

Andy Burnham has cruised to victory in a high-stakes by-election in northern England, paving the way for him to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the leadership

No 10 says Starmer ‘will not walk away’ if Burnham officially enters Labour leadership contest - UK politics live

leadership contest after Andy** **Burnham said he would join one if elected an MP.** “There is no contest at the moment, and my view is it would be **a huge distraction at this time

Burnham team tell ministers to delay resignations to avoid chaos

Andy Burnham’s campaign has been forced to talk ministers out of resigning as early as this weekend to avoid Keir Starmer’s government descending into chaos amid fallout from the Makerfield byelection, the Guardian

Where does Starmer’s leadership stand – and who are his potential challengers?

challengers? As the May elections creep closer, the leadership speculation at Westminster grows more intense. Is [Keir Starmer](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/keir-starmer) safe and, if so, for how long? When will Angela Rayner’s tax affairs

Labour leadership talk ‘froth and nonsense’, says senior minister – UK politics live

Keir Starmer](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/keir-starmer) will not have resigned by the school summer holidays, despite a major challenge to his leadership after the local election results. “He was very clear with the cabinet on Tuesday

'We need to move quickly,' says Labour MP seeking to challenge PM

Starmer to stay there" she said but added: "For the sake of the country... Labour should change their leader." Health Secretary Wes Streeting, former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham

Burnham to back Shabana Mahmood’s immigration changes, allies say

challenging Keir Starmer or persuading him to step down. But [Labour](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/labour) MPs who have canvassed in the constituency say it will be a very difficult fight in a seat where Reform

Starmer’s future hangs in balance after Burnham’s Makerfield election win

Andy Burnham easily won Thursday’s vote, viewed as a prelude to a Labour leadership contest.  Charity shop worker Sue Hailwood said she is tired of the media attention

Friday briefing: Andy Burnham wins Makerfield byelection to set up possible leadership bid

Andy Burnham](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/andyburnham) is heading back to the Commons after a resounding victory in Makerfield, putting Keir Starmer’s leadership on notice – and giving Reform something to think about

Analysis: Many Labour MPs are blaming the boss for elections body blow

leadership contest and praised Sir Keir's stance on the Iran war. But her comments had this sting in the tail. "The message has been clear from the public," she told the BBC, "Unless

Tuesday briefing: Starmer’s ‘last chance’ speech and the possible challengers to his premiership

challenge to Keir Starmer’s leadership on Saturday, has changed course. Instead of an immediate change, she wants the prime minister to set a September timetable for his departure. “She wants a confidence vote

Analysis: Has Starmer done enough to save his premiership?

Keir Starmer's speech. Was it enough to avert a challenge to the prime minister's leadership less than two years after he won a landslide general election victory? In the first instance, the person

Manchester shows biggest fall in inner-city deprivation in boost for Burnham

Andy Burnham](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/andyburnham) stakes a claim that he could replicate the city’s revival nationwide. As the [frontrunner to replace Keir Starmer](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/andyburnham), the Greater Manchester mayor has placed the city