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Henry Zeffman: PM puts himself back in the game for now

Party begin to seek a different candidate who is currently an MP. One other element of Labour's rules to remember. If somebody were to challenge Sir Keir directly, then the prime minister does

UK’s Keir Starmer faces likely challenge following Labour’s election defeat

Labour MPs. Likely challengers to the leadership include Health Secretary Wes Streeting, former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. Starmer’s government has been in power since 2024, when

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

Labour to find a candidate to oppose him, with Ed Miliband and Rayner both possible contenders, while Andy Burnham is unable to run from outside parliament. Rayner suggested she could enter any leadership contest, should

‘King of the North’: Who is Andy Burnham, a potential UK prime minister?

ruling Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) prevented Burnham from standing in the Manchester Gorton and Denton by-election, which was eventually won by the Green Party. Burnham, whose speech is peppered with northern colloquialisms

Phillipson: challenge to Starmer would be wrong despite election ‘kicking’

party lost control of about 40 councils and 1,500 seats at the local elections on Thursday. However, she said a leadership challenge from the Labour backbencher Catherine West would be “completely wrong”. West

British leader Keir Starmer under pressure after heavy election losses

ruling Labour party. With the bulk of results now counted after voting on Thursday, [Labour](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/labour) had lost more than 1,400 representatives from English councils, the local government structures that deliver many

Wes Streeting pledges 'wealth tax that works'

challenging him for the Labour leadership, Streeting told the BBC. "As I said to the prime minister in my letter and privately, this is a government that lacks definition and also direction and vision," Streeting

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

leadership contest.  Charity shop worker Sue Hailwood said she is tired of the media attention on her town [Simon Speakman Cordall/Al Jazeera] Burnham, 56, has said he plans to challenge

Andy Burnham: 'King of the North' with eyes on the top job

leadership contests. More than 10 years ago he ran twice, unsuccessfully, for the top job. Now he's backed by many Labour MPs as the party's best chance of recovery, after months of languishing

At a glance: Starmer grapples with leadership crisis

party rules - More than 70 Labour MPs have publicly urged Sir Keir to resign immediately or draw up an exit timetable - Miatta Fahnbulleh, a communities minister, earlier become the first member of the government

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

party activists and media, unable to nip out for a pint of milk without someone bothering them for their thoughts.Locals told the Guardian the campaign has become increasingly toxic, with reports of Labour placards being

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

Labour MPs say they are willing to back Starmer in the event of a challenge to his leadership to give time for Burnham to return, [having been previously blocked from standing at the Gorton

The race to replace Starmer is on - but he still faces a momentous choice

challengers' plan, a leadership contest seems likely over the summer, and a new leader and prime minister by the party conference in late September. That means that even if Starmer

UK long-term borrowing costs reach 28-year high

Labour Party is expected to lose hundreds of council seats, and face challenging national elections in Scotland and Wales. Over the weekend there was also widespread speculation about possible leadership challenges. The government points

No ‘tailor-made’ deal for UK if it wants to rejoin bloc, say former EU Brexit officials

ruling Labour party. Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, who is seeking a return to Westminster to challenge the prime minister, has previously said he wants Britain to rejoin the bloc within his lifetime. However

Culture secretary says Streeting’s call for UK to rejoin EU is ‘odd’

leadership contest that is expected to follow](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/14/will-starmer-go-and-if-so-how-four-scenarios-in-the-battle-for-no-10), Nandy insisted the prime minister, Keir Starmer, was right to have ruled out rejoining the EU. She told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg: “I actually

Keir Starmer aides ‘war gaming’ over leadership contest with Andy Burnham

Labour leadership contest should he beat Reform in the byelection next week, and return to Westminster, but has not ruled out challenging Starmer himself if it should come to it. So the prime minister

Labour must offer more than ‘better managed decline’ on economy, MPs urge

party for any would-be replacement, and became one of the first senior figures to call openly for his resignation. In her contribution Haigh called on Labour to replace Rachel Reeves’s fiscal rules with

Could Starmer bring back Rayner to steady ship – and would she get onboard?

leadership challenge, with Rayner routinely cited as a possible challenger. One of the many moving parts in this would be whether another possible challenger, Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, returns to parliament. Speaking

Burnham team tell ministers to delay resignations to avoid chaos

challenges. Loyalist MPs were invited to No 10 on Wednesday night to discuss a fightback strategy. There are reports of a campaign infrastructure in place including a campaign director and a bank account for donations