Amid a wave of devastating local election defeats, allies of Andy Burnham have convened to pressure Sir Keir Starmer into announcing a clear timetable for his resignation as Labour leader. This development signals growing unrest within the party’s ranks and highlights the precarious position Starmer faces following the May elections.
What Happened: Labour’s Crushing May Election Setback
Labour suffered significant losses across England and Wales in the recent local elections, ceding hundreds of council seats to Reform UK and the Green Party. The party also lost control of the Senedd in Wales, marking a serious blow to Labour’s political dominance. Early projections from Sky News suggest that in a hypothetical general election, the UK could face a hung parliament, with Reform UK emerging as the largest party—an unprecedented scenario that reflects Labour’s plummeting support.
In this turbulent political climate, a group of Labour MPs aligned with Mainstream—a centre-left activist network closely connected to Burnham—gathered to strategize on forcing Starmer to set a departure date. Mainstream, launched last year as a broad coalition for Labour’s progressive left, counts around a dozen active MPs and maintains a strong link with the Greater Manchester Mayor.
While the meeting was not initiated by Burnham himself, who remains cautious about engaging in leadership speculation, his supporters see the need to regroup and discuss the path forward, especially given ongoing questions about how Burnham might re-enter Parliament.
Why It Matters: The Leadership Crisis Deepens
The election results have amplified calls within Labour for a leadership change. Several MPs voiced sharp criticism of Starmer’s leadership, with some publicly demanding an exit timetable. Simon Opher, Labour MP for Stroud and a Mainstream member, condemned the leadership as “loathed” and accused a “small clique” of driving the party “to the edge of extinction.” He urged an “orderly transition” to new leadership in the coming months.
Mainstream MPs Paula Barker and Clive Lewis echoed these demands. Lewis warned that delaying a leadership change would only deepen Labour’s woes and impair its ability to recover and govern effectively. The pressure extended beyond Mainstream, with Socialist Campaign Group MPs Richard Burgon and Ian Byrne also calling for a clear timetable, with Burgon suggesting it be announced by year-end.
Burnham himself remains the most popular senior Labour figure among the public, consistently outperforming other potential contenders in opinion polls. However, a significant barrier persists: Burnham lacks a seat in Parliament. Earlier this year, the Labour National Executive Committee (NEC) blocked his bid to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election, citing concerns over costs and the risk of handing the seat to Reform UK. Ironically, the Greens won that contest, with Reform finishing second.
Some Labour MPs have reportedly offered to step aside to allow Burnham a parliamentary seat, but they demand assurances he won’t be blocked again—assurances the NEC has so far refused to provide.
What Comes Next: The Future of Labour Leadership
Calls for Starmer to set a resignation timetable are growing louder. Connor Naismith, MP for Crewe and Nantwich and part of the socially conservative Blue Labour faction, urged the NEC to reconsider its stance on Burnham. He stressed Burnham’s importance as “the most popular Labour voice in the country” and argued the party must not exclude him from future leadership discussions.
Yet, some Burnham supporters acknowledge the difficulty of his parliamentary return within the next year. They suggest that if Starmer hopes to survive politically, he should consider assembling a new senior team to restore credibility and momentum.
Burnham himself is keeping a low profile this weekend, having canceled public appearances amid the electoral fallout. His allies believe he wants to avoid media scrutiny while Labour faces widespread losses.
Meanwhile, Starmer has received backing from several senior cabinet members, including Housing Secretary Steve Reed, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall. Despite acknowledging the “very tough” election results, Starmer insists he will fight on and warns that stepping down prematurely would “plunge the country into chaos.”
Two figures—Health Secretary Wes Streeting and former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner—are considered capable of mounting a leadership challenge. However, insiders suggest neither is likely to initiate a contest imminently, with Streeting reportedly positioning himself as ready but reluctant to start a leadership battle unless prompted by Rayner.
Why This Matters: Labour’s Path Forward
The May elections have exposed deep fissures within Labour, highlighting both leadership dissatisfaction and strategic uncertainty. The growing chorus demanding Starmer’s resignation timetable underscores a party at a crossroads—struggling to reconcile internal divisions while facing a resurgent opposition.
Andy Burnham’s popularity offers Labour a potential rallying point, but his parliamentary absence complicates leadership dynamics. The NEC’s refusal to facilitate his return reveals tensions between party structures and grassroots support.
As Labour grapples with the fallout, the next few months will prove critical. Whether Starmer can stabilize his leadership, or whether a new figure emerges to unite the party, remains uncertain. What is clear is that Labour must act decisively to rebuild trust with voters and chart a coherent strategy ahead of future elections.
