Following Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation, Makerfield MP Andy Burnham could take his place, but he is set to have a bumpy road ahead.
Andy Burnham could replace Sir Keir Starmer as the next Prime Minister, but it won’t be easy (Image: Getty)
Following Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to step down as Prime Minister, Andy Burnham has emerged as Labour’s frontrunner. But, as Aubrey Allegretti attests, Burnham’s path to 10 Downing Street is not going to be a “shoo-in”. Appearing on GB News on Monday, Allegretti, Chief Political Correspondent at The Times, had bad news for Burnham as he declared he has a bumpy road ahead.
“He obviously made a series of small backtracks during the Makerfield campaign – if he’s the PM apparent in waiting, then there is lots of room for him to slip up and for him to be scrutinised on welfare policy, defence policy [and] his closer relationship with the EU that he said he wants,” Allegretti explained.
Emily Carver asked: “Is it possible that over the next three and a half to four weeks, somebody steps forward who can muster 81 names from across the party, who doesn’t want Burnham to be the ultimate shoo-in?”
“Someone like Al Carns, for example? Would he be able to get support?”, she pushed.
“It could be Al Carns,” Allegretti replied. “But don’t forget, as well, there are a lot of Keir Starmer‘s allies are feeling incredibly bitter today. I spoke to one earlier who texted, they said, ‘I just can’t talk to you right now, I’m crying’.”
Revealing that many of Starmer’s allies have been referring to Burnham as “some mug in a bucket hat who wants to run the country for a while,” the political correspondent noted that there was still “deep animosity” within the Labour party. “I wouldn’t say it’s ultimately a shoo-in,” Allegretti concluded.
Starmer announced his resignation in a speech on Monday morning (Image: Getty)
On Monday morning, Starmer shocked the nation by confirming his resignation. Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, he said, “Walking up this street two years ago was the proudest moment of my life”.
“The question my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election. I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question, and I accept that answer with good grace,” Starmer continued. “Every decision I have taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party.”
Before concluding his address, Starmer clarified that he had spoken to His Majesty the King and had agreed to remain in his post as PM until a new leader is in place by September.
