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Labour MPs mull leadership challenge to prevent Burnham 'coronation'

Labour MPs mull leadership challenge to prevent Burnham 'coronation' At least two senior Labour MPs

Burnham cleared to run for selection in pivotal by-election

leadership race cannot be triggered until someone, with the backing of 81 Labour MPs, formally challenges the prime minister. Under Labour Party rules, Burnham

Leadership rules should ‘not be tweaked’ to let Burnham run for PM, Labour NEC member says

Burnham’s return to parliament](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jan/25/andy-burnham-blocked-from-byelection-race-by-labour-ruling-committee) to stave off a potential leadership challenge in January. There was widespread anger among [Labour](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/labour) MPs

Keir Starmer to step down as prime minister two years after historic election victory

leadership contest – or handover of power – is complete, leaving his successor to take on the serious challenges of the UK economy and a precarious international backdrop. Some Labour MPs are concerned that Burnham

‘It’s Andy or bust’: could Burnham’s return to parliament save Starmer?

Burnham has been making efforts to build bridges. Now many Labour MPs say they are willing to back Starmer in the event of a challenge to his leadership

PM under pressure from Labour MPs and ministers to set timetable for exit

leadership challenger, needs the backing of 81 Labour MPs. Streeting has said he has enough support from MPs to join a contest - however he could step back if momentum in the party appears

A political nerd’s guide to Britain’s by-election

Burnham wins on June 18, he will immediately challenge Starmer for the leadership. He appears to have the support among Labour MPs

Keir Starmer expected to announce departure as prime minister on Monday

MPs to make way for [Andy Burnham](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/andyburnham) to become Labour leader. The prime minister and his allies had insisted for weeks that they would fight a leadership challenge

Starmer facing pressure from Burnham and Streeting allies not to fight leadership challenge

Labour grandees to persuade Keir Starmer over the weekend not to fight a leadership challenge. Burnham, who won a compelling majority in the [Makerfield byelection](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/makerfield-byelection) overnight, is expected to travel to London

How quickly could Andy Burnham become the UK’s prime minister?

challengers come forward. Burnham would still need to go through the formal process of getting support from MPs and party groups, but with a coronation looming, this would most likely be swift. Labour’s ruling

UK ex-health minister says will run to replace Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Burnham is elected to the parliament, he would need to gather support from 81 Labour MPs, or 20 percent of the party in parliament, to launch a challenge against Starmer. Another potential challenger, Angela Rayner

Burnham team tell ministers to delay resignations to avoid chaos

Labour](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/labour) MPs want. We need to keep the government on track,” a close Burnham ally said. “Andy won’t be launching an immediate challenge or laying down the gauntlet in the early

Burnham says he would seek to enter any Labour leadership contest

challenger wanting to trigger a leadership contest must be an MP and have the backing of 81 Labour MPs. Streeting has confirmed he would enter any potential contest and has encouraged people to back Burnham

What next for Starmer? Five scenarios in Labour leadership crisis

MPs this week have challenged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's grip on power but there is still no clear resolution to the leadership crisis affecting Labour. Andy Burnham

Pressure grows on Starmer to step aside for Burnham – UK politics live

leadership challenge requires the formal backing of at least 81 [Labour](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/labour) MPs, but, as my colleagues **Jessica Elgot** and **Rowena Mason** write in their report, one MP said they believed there were

‘I’m not going away,’ says Keir Starmer despite defence secretary’s exit

Burnham increasingly expected to win next Thursday’s Makerfield byelection and return to Westminster, many Labour MPs expect an imminent leadership challenge

‘Why are we even doing this?’ The week that left Britain’s PM looking like an interim leader

leadership challenge, Andy Burnham is seen as the successor apparent. But the Greater Manchester mayor is not yet in parliament and will first have to win a byelection in Makerfield, a constituency on the edge

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

Labour MPs names he needed to launch a leadership challenge and he said he was only holding back to allow [Andy Burnham

Labour MPs urge Starmer to set targets to boost number of male teachers in England

MPs see this week as a critical moment for their ideas ahead of a potential Labour leadership campaign, in which the Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, could challenge

Angela Rayner cleared by HMRC over tax affairs paving the way for potential leadership bid

challenge for the leadership. Photograph: James Manning/PA Streeting has been organising an attempt to oust Starmer for days since Labour’s disastrous election results, which Rayner said had left many MPs – including herself – “heartbroken