Labour in crisis: Andy Burnham prepares challenge to Starmer

The working day started with Angela Rayner being cleared by the tax man and then West Streeting resigning but pulling out of a challenge to the Prime Minister.But in the last few hours, the battle lines have been drawn.And now, with reports that Keir Starmer won't block him from running in a by -election, Andy Burnham will try and win the seat in Makefield, near where he grew up.Is he enough of a local hero to overcome the swell of reform?And can he beat Starmer in a leadership race?Tonight, British politics is in flux, and no one knows where the pieces will settle.

Here's our political editor, Gary Gibbon.

Through the morning, Westminster wondered if the House of Cards was about to fall.Was the prime minister going to be challenged by his health secretary?In number 10, there was growing confidence.West Streeting hadn't got enough MPs to back him.One o 'clock, West Streeting resigned from the cabinet, but didn't announce a challenge.In a stinging attack on the prime minister, he wrote, where we need vision, we have a vacuum.

Where we need direction, we have drift.leaders take responsibility, but too often that has meant other people falling on their swords.

What are you going to say to the prime minister, health secretary?

West Streeting said he'd forewarned the prime minister he was going to resign in their abrupt meeting yesterday.Number 10 said his coup attempt had failed because he couldn't gather the 81 MPs needed to start the leadership bid.Isn't the truth that a lot of people will think you just didn't have the 81 nominations for him.

So people might think that, but I'm confident the way he's had the numbers but decided not to do it.81?Not to do it because MPs and the unions asked for the contest.As he says in his letter, and people know this, where we need vision there is vacuum and where we need direction there is drift.

But he said he didn't think he could win.He couldn't even start a contest.

Look, that's not the case and I certainly have been out talking to voters in my constituency and around Ayrshire since October and it's clear that the Prime Minister has lost the confidence ofcountry.

As the Prime Minister shuttled between number 10 and Parliament trying to shore up his government, his backers crowed about the support they had gathered amongst backbenchers.The tally of people now openly supporting the Prime Minister saying he should say amongst Labour MPs is 100 and... 115 people.It's not very good.115 people.But there's lots of other conversations that are going on, Gary.Lots of other MPs.

They don't seem to have felt that they can support the Prime Minister.

Yeah, but some people want to keep their own council, and that's absolutely fine, Gary.I've got no issues with that at all.You need to.Yes, absolutely.

It would help if you had a bigger number.

No, look, we have to be...We've had a bad set of elections.We want to be coming together at this time.

But no sooner was one threat seen off than another appeared.first sign the mayor of Greater Manchester was too busy for his regular phone -in show.

I've got this statement from Andy Burnham.It's very rare that he's ever missed a hot seat in the last six years.

Andy Burnham was busy again looking for a seat he could win in a by -election so he could come back and take over as Labour leader and Prime Minister.The Labour MP from the right of the party was the one to step aside.There was no attempt to disguise the purpose.Josh Simons, in a letter to his Makerfield constituents, wrote, the Labour Party and the government must change.Andy can deliver that change.It's the seat next to Andy Burnham's old constituency of Lea.

He has strong connections to the area, but he also has an electoral challenge.In last week's local elections in Makefield, the seats tally shows Labour lost out heavily to reform.Reform had a win in every single ward, and the party tonight said it would throw everything at the by -election.The Prime Minister led the party's governing National Executive Committee in blocking Andy Burnham's last -minuteto stand in a by -election, when the intention to take over the party and government was more camouflaged.Tonight, Andy Burnham's online message was blatant, saying he wanted to bring the change we have brought to Greater Manchester to the whole of the UK.

After this week, he wrote, we owe it to people to come back together as a Labour movement, giving the Prime Minister and the government the space and stability they need as the by -election takes place.It sounded like he was asking everyone not to rub the Prime Minister's nose in it.Be nice to the man.If my plan works, he'll soon lose his car, his house, and his job.

Well, Gary is with me here now on The Green.Gary.

Well, I think there was probably a nanosecond in the afternoon when Keir Starmer might have had a very, very slight sigh of relief.But that was about all the psychodrama afforded him, where Streeting had thrown in the towel, although those aren't the words he used.His team are absolutely insistent they had the numbers, but it would have required government resignations to actually fulfil them.That would have toppled the government.The rest of it, his opponents are absolutely clear they don't think he did have the numbers.Whatever it was, that campaign fizzled out and then suddenly, hey presto, we have Andy Burnham on the scene.

There are a whole load of complications, of course, to this Andy Burnham potential candidacy.the NEC, the National Executive Committee, last time round Keir Starmer said effectively he wasn't going to give this guy the backdoor keys so he could come in and burgle the house.Well this time it's not really up to Keir Starmer who's not got much capital authority left and I think the trade unions are pretty confident, I'm pretty confident saying that trade unions are going to hand the keys to the backdoor to Andy Burnham to come in and burgle Downing Street and try and get Keir Starmer out of there.The bigger problem is the by -election itself.The seat he has chosen is an enormous challenge, courageous as Sir Humphrey might have called it, because reforms seem to have enormous strengths there.What it would be is incredible proof of product of how good Andy Burnham is at taking on reform if he were to win it, but there is an enormous possibility in the eyes of people who know that seat very well that he might not get there.

And then there's all sorts of policy issues that are raised by an Andy Burnham candidacy.markets respond.They might not respond too radically in the morning because this is all a long way off and there are so many hoops to go through.But there have been concerns in the gilt markets about talk about getting rid of fiscal rules.He's certainly flirted with that and there's all sorts of other policies that he brings into play, cosying up to other progressive parties, proportional representation, things that strike fear into a lot of Labour MPs' hearts.And then there's the whole timescale of this.

The only way Andy Burnham actually gets there on this trajectory involves the sort of extended timescale that Keir Starmer has been telling everybody in private meetings for days, would lead to absolute chaos.So you cannot rule out, amazingly, even after the week that we are coming towards the close of, you cannot rule out the possibility, Keir Starmer is still there by the autumn.Thanks very much.

And already this by -election is being dubbed by some, make a field or break a field for Andy Burnham.And for sure, as Gary just mentioned, this absolutely is a gamble for the Mayor of Greater Manchester.Already one hurdle overcome, now that there is a seat identified for him, but many, many more hurdles still to go.Of course, we have got the next one, which is actually getting the approval of the NEC, which did not happen with the Gordon Denton by -election, when he said he wanted to stand there and he was blocked.This constituency, though, is much more in an area of Greater Manchester that Andy Burnham knows incredibly well.It is right next door to his old constituency of Leigh, that he represented for many years before quitting Westminster to become the Mayor of Greater Manchester.

This seat used to be one of the absolute safest for Labour.Go back to 1997, the majority was huge, 26 ,000.It's been going down.and down until the last general election when it was just over 5 ,000 when Josh Simons was elected here.Then there's what happened last week in the local elections.Every single ward in this constituency went to reform last week.

What Andy Burnham and his backers are hoping is that there are enough people in this area who don't think of a vote for Andy Burnham as being quite the same as a vote for Labour.We saw some evidence of that in the Gorton and Denton by -election.And then, just last week, one council leader who just lost his seat said to me, yeah, really negative on the doorsteps.Andy Burnham, though, greeted like a rock star when he was out campaigning.

Joining me now on the green is Douglas Alexander, the Secretary of State for Scotland.He served in the cabinets of both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.Are you hoping that Andy Burnham will win this by election or lose it?

It is ultimately up to the nationalCommittee.Number 10 has indicated this evening that they are not going to block Andy Burnham.

Let's see if other candidates emerge.

If Andy Burnham was to be selected as the Labour candidate, Of course I would want Andy Burnham to win.I want every Labour candidate to win.

Even though when Andy Burnham wins, he is going to take on your boss, Keir Starmer, almost immediately?

We have had endless leadership speculation today.

That is going to happen, isn't it?

Let's take one step at a time.There is a process that needs to be followed.That involves the National Executive Committee.As you say, the indications this evening is that number 10 is not seeking to block Andy Burnham as a candidate.He will then rightfully and reasonably have to be selected by the members of Makerfield constituency Labour Party and then critically, it is a matter for that community and for that public.Now, we will be working hard for whoever is the Labour candidate, if it's Andy Burnham or anyone else, we'll be working hard, but it's ultimately a judgement for the people of Makerfield as to whether he's elected.

So there are steps before you get a newly elected, hopefully, Labour MP.

You know what the Andy Burnham slogan is, don't you?The unofficial one, vote Labour to get rid of Starmer.

Well, listen, I've worked with Andy for many years.I remember him when he was working first in the Blair government that you mentioned, then we served together in the Cabinet.He is a Labour man through and through.He's done a fantastic job in Manchester, is doing a fantastic job in Manchester.I think he's got a big contribution to make.But I appreciate there's going to be headlines, speculation, noise.

The truth is we've had a whole lot of that in recent days.And notwithstanding the news today, our responsibility as a government is to get back to the day job and focus on the work in hand.

But let's be honest, I mean, as Secretary of State for Scotland, you were up there for the elections.You must have experienced just how toxic and unpopular the name Keir Starmer is on the doorstep.You've always said you want to avoid civil war and the Labour Party.Why not do the honourable thing, fall on your sword as in Keir Starmer, bow out now,clear the path for Andy Burnham.This fight is exactly creating the kind of chaos you have always said you wanted to avoid.

You are anticipating a fight.What we have heard this evening is that the Prime Minister is not seeking to block Andy Burnham from being a Labour candidate.

Is he going to run against him in a leadership contest?

I don't speak for Andy Burnham this evening.I can assure you that I'm seeking to best reflect to your viewers the position as we find it.Of course we had really terrible results last week.Of course we've had a very turbulent few days with a cauldron of sadness, anger, frustration and fear frankly within the parliamentary Labour Party across the road.We've had a very significant day today with the loss of Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary after all of the events of recent days.The responsibility of the government is to stay focused focused on our work in hand, but you are absolutely right.

We are looking now at what will be a very significant selection for a by -election in Makerfield.

But you can't focus on the business of government until the question of leadership is cleared up.Josh Simons, when he stood down today, said very Clearly, I am standing aside in order to clear the path for Andy Burnham.

Well, as I say, I don't speak for Josh Simons.

It's for Josh Simons...But you speak for Keir Starmer, right?You are close to Keir Starmer.

It is for Josh Simons to account for his choices and his judgment.What I can assure you is that Keir is focused very clearly on bringing the party together.He recognises the weight of responsibility that we all feel in light of terrible results right across the country in the last week, and that's going to be our focus in the days and weeks ahead.

When he resigned today, he said where there was supposed to be vision, there is vacuum.There is vacuum in your party after almost two years in power.

I have a huge amount of time for Wes, but look at what emerged today from his own department, as was the case this morning.Some great news.What emerged from the Treasury, the strongest growth in the G7.So when you say to me what is the vision of the Labour Party, it is the enduring vision of wealth, power and opportunity in the hands of the many and not the few.If you are saying are we delivering, look at the fastest -growing economy in the G7 with a lot more to do and look at record achievements in relation to health.

Until people feel those improvements, and they are very incremental so far, it is not going to change a political time.

What they will feel is frankly an economy that is stronger than others, albeit we have a whole lot to do on cost of living, and an improvement on something as basic as times in the NHS here in England.That is much more consequential to a lot of voters than a lot more speculation.

You have done two leadership campaigns with other people.You were in the bunker with Gordon Brown.Who is better at doing bunker?Keir Starmer or Gordon Brown?

Gordon's got a very distinguished record as the Prime Minister but he never won an election with a huge majority in a way that Keir Starmer has achieved.People have often underestimated Keir Starmer and I personally am immensely grateful that he brought Labour back and actually did the work not just of Gordon Brown but of Gordon Brown, of Tony Blair, of Neil Kinnock and of John Smith in a single Parliament.

But if Keir Starmer does not bow out and he loses that campaign, leadership campaign, he's handing the keys at number 10 to Nigel Farage, isn't he?

Well, listen, we bear a historic responsibility to stop Nigel Farage getting the keys on Downing Street.That is a responsibility not on one man, but the entirety of the Labour Party, and it's one that we are determined to discharge.Douglas Alexander, thank you very much.Thank you.

One Labour MP who has been vocal in calling for Keir Starmer to go is Clive Lewis.He even offered to give up his seat in Norwich South so that Andy Burnham could stand in a by -election before today's news.He joins me now.Clive Lewis, thanks for coming on the programme.You can hold on to your seat.Someone else has done the honourable thing.

I have breathed a sigh of relief.I think everyone in the Labour Party has breathed a sigh of relief after today.Well, many people have, not everyone, but many of us have.And, yeah, let's see where we land in a few weeks or months' time.

So, you know, some of the hurdles have been cleared.Keir Starmer has indicated that he won't block his path to the candidacy.The NEC will probably file him behind him.But, as we have pointed out already on the programme, half the votes in that constituency went to reform.24 wards went to reform.24 councillors went to reform.

This is reform turf now.This is not a safe seat, is it?

You've got a Labour MP there with a majority.Those were local elections.This is a by -election.By -elections are very different.And I think on top of that, we also know the reason Andy Burnham didn't want a seat in Norwich or Norfolk, well, just because my constituents wouldn't want that, but also because he's a very popular individual, as you've already reported, Greater Manchester and the North West.And ultimately, we have to believe that if Andy Burnham is going to be able to help the Labour Party and this Labour government turn itself around and prevent a reformed government, then he should be able to beat reform there.

We're not taking anything for granted.Look, we're not even there yet.He's got to get through the NEC.We've got to get through it.And that's obviously some hurdles that have to be jumped over.But in this by -election, there will be a very clear choice for the people of Markerfield.

Do you want a new Labour government with a new potential Labour Prime Minister, and I think we have to be honest, Andrew Burnham isn't coming back into Parliament to serve in anyone else's cabinet, or to be a backbencher.He will be coming to become Prime Minister, ultimately.But that's a big choice.

Of course it is, but it's also a massive, massive gamble.If he loses this election to reform, then basically that's curtains for the Labour Party in the next general election.So this is, are you really sure that this is a gamble you want to undertake?

I think at the moment there are many peopleinside the Labour Party and across the country who feel that the trajectory we're on after those local elections, the unpopularity of the Prime Minister, that we are on a slow cruise to a reformed government.And I think ultimately sometimes in politics you have to go with your gut and do what's right.We're taking a chance.There's no two ways about that.I understand that.

And I don't think anyone would want to be in this situation.None of us want to be in this situation where we find ourselves at the moment.But the reality is, this isn't just any right -wing government.It is one of the most right -wing authoritarian governments we will ever see or would have seen in our history.We look over the pond over in the Atlantic in what's happening in the US.We look at what's happened in Hungary.

We look around the world.That's not the kind of government I want to see.I understand there are some people that do, but that's not what I want to see.And this is our best chance, I believe, to prevent that.

But precisely because of those stakes, it makes the gamble so big.And it is actually in itself quite telling that you couldn't find a seat that was safer than this one for Andy Burnham to contest.And that shows you the way that the political tide is going in this country.

I think it tells you that there are lots of MPs that want to hold on to their seat, want to form a government, and there are a number of them, myself included, who wanted Andy Burnham to come in and play his part in turning things around.That's what I see here.I think, you know, for days, weeks even, we've been told, where is this seat?Well, the seat's here.For days, weeks, we were told there's no route through the MEC.That now looks potentially that that could happen.

Now we've heard the Prime Minister a

in the Other than Keir Starmer, it's probably fair to say that no one in the Labour Party wants a leadership contest less than the Chancellor right now.The economy expanded by 0 .6 % in the first three months of this year.Rachel Reeves said it showed that her plan was starting to bear fruit and a leadership contest would derail all that.Well, our economics editor, Helia Ebrahimi, joins me now.Helia.

Well, Matt, it should have been a good news day for the government, shouldn't it?Good news on the economy, good news on the NHS.And outside of Westminster, that is what people care about.And as you just heard Douglas Alexander boasting, Britain's economy in the first three months of 2026 was doing well.Even in the face of the war in the Middle East, it was more resilient.As the chart shows, the economy grew by 0 .6 % for the first three months.

That's faster than any any other seen their cost jump in the last 30 days.Perhaps not a surprise when petrol alone has gone up by 20%.

So given that, you know, rather tricky picture, what scope does the government even have to give people a handout?

Well, we've been talking this week, haven't we, about how even if the political pieces change, the economic picture is going to stay exactly the same.And as you said,the Chancellor this morning pointed to today's figures and said oh look they're better than expected and I'll be able to make an intervention on the cost of living crisis next week but it's limited how much she can do because at the spring statement Rachel Reeves had 24 billion pounds to spare that was her fiscal headroom the money she had before she broke her own rules but economists now say she's only She's burnt through £16 billion, primarily because of higher debt interest costs.We might be the fastest growing economy in the G7, but we are also the one paying the highest borrowing costs.That leaves her with a scant £8 billion.Chump change.

I'm afraid it is chump change, Matt, because in an unpredictable world, as the government keep telling us, that money and that buffer quickly disappear.

Helia, thank you very much indeed.