Starmer says he will campaign for Burnham in Makerfield

Keir Starmer said he will campaign for Andy Burnham ahead of the Makerfield by-election on 18 June. He urged Labour to “all pull together and fight” and said he wants to be involved in the campaign. A Burnham spokesperson welcomed anyone embracing Burnham’s campaign message. Starmer’s leadership has faced pressure after resignations and calls for him to stand down, following poor election results in Wales and losses of council seats in England. Starmer insisted he will not “walk away” from Downing Street and has sought to set the political agenda with cost of living announcements. He said Labour has a strong story on the doorstep, citing economic growth, falling NHS waiting lists, and reduced net migration.

"“I want to be part of that, of course I do,” the prime minister told reporters on a visit to Essex on Thursday. Sir Keir said Labour needed to “all pull together and fight” in the by-election taking place on 18 June. When asked whether he would be out supporting the Greater Manchester mayor's campaign in Makerfield, Sir Keir told reporters: “Yes, and I've said to the whole Labour movement that I want everybody to be involved in the campaign, whatever other discussions are going on, it's really important that's a straight fight between Labour and Reform.”"

"Sir Keir's leadership was plunged into crisis last week, after dozens of Labour MPs called for him to stand down and Wes Streeting resigned as health secretary, criticising his government's “drift”. The revolt against Sir Keir's leadership came after a dire set of election results that saw Labour lose power in Wales and almost 1,500 council seats in England. Sir Keir has insisted he will not “walk away” from Downing Street and has sought to seize control of the political agenda with a series of announcements on the cost of living this week."

"A spokesperson for Burnham said: “Anyone who wants to embrace Andy's campaign message is welcome on the campaign.” Sir Keir's intention to canvass voters in Makerfield, in Greater Manchester, is unexpected given Burnham is widely expected to challenge Sir Keir for the Labour leadership, should he become an MP. He said Labour has “got a very good story to tell” on the doorstep, referring to recent economic growth figures, falling NHS waiting lists, and a drop in UK net migration to the lowest level since the start of the Covid pandemic."

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