June 20, 2026, 07:14June 20, 2026, 07:14
Doesn’t seem to know what to do either: Keir Starmer.Image: keystone
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under massive pressure to resign after his internal party rival Andy Burnham entered Parliament. “I would say it’s over, Keir,” said former Home Secretary Alan Johnson on LBC when asked what he would advise the Prime Minister if he called him.
Observers now expect further decisions in the British government crisis. If Starmer sticks to his stance of ruling out resignation despite everything, Burnham is likely to trigger the process for a leadership election in the governing Labor party very soon. The PA news agency wrote that there is speculation in Westminster that it could happen as early as next week.
The British media reported both that Starmer was asked by party colleagues on Friday to clear the way in an orderly manner and that the Prime Minister continued to receive support. Starmer himself said on Friday that he had received a mandate in the summer of 2024 “to bring about change”. The newspaper “The Times”, citing an unnamed source, reported that internally Starmer’s publicly clear stance was “more nuanced”.
The “harsh reality” in the crisis
Johnson, who as a Labor heavyweight held other ministerial posts during his political career, said: “He is a smart man, he knows that he will forever go down in history as the man who took the Labor Party from the second worst result in its history to the second best result in its history in just five years.” Starmer is “a fighter”. Now, however, the “harsh reality” applies, said Johnson.
Burnham won the by-election in the Makerfield district on Thursday. Only now, having won the parliamentary seat, can he force Starmer into the election for the leadership of the ruling Labor party and replace him as Prime Minister if he is successful. Another possible leadership candidate is former Health Minister Wes Streeting.
Former transport secretary Louise Haigh, a supporter of Burnham, told the PA news agency: “We very much hope that this will be an orderly and controlled transition, that Keir Starmer will reflect on the results, and that Andy and Keir will meet in the coming days and agree a common way forward within the next week.”
A sideshow in the crisis is likely to be the election of Burnham’s successor as mayor of Greater Manchester. This is scheduled to take place on July 30th. Labor wants to defend its office in particular against the right-wing populist party Reform UK, which is clearly leading in some surveys in Great Britain. (sda/dpa)