Former Labour Minister Urges Andy Burnham To Replace Keir Starmer

A former Labour minister has called for Andy Burnham to replace Keir Starmer as prime minister.

Lord Dave Watts said the party should allow the Greater Manchester mayor to return to Westminster in a by-election, which would then pave the way for a leadership challenge.

Watts was a government whip under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, and also chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) from 2012 until 2015.

His intervention came as Labour braced for a catastrophic set of results in elections across England and in Scotland and Wales.

The party is on course to lose more than 1,000 English councillors, and be resoundingly defeated in the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd.

Writing for HuffPost UK, Lord Watts said: “The leadership question must be confronted head-on and without further delay.

“Does Keir Starmer possess the qualities required to steer the country through these turbulent times and reconnect with a disillusioned electorate? On the evidence of Thursday’s results, the answer is no.

“It’s clear we need a change, and many MPs and Labour voters are looking to the most successful and popular Labour politician, Andy Burnham, to provide that change.

“I believe that Andy should be allowed to stand in a by-election to boost Labour’s prospects and to provide the leadership needed.

“This is not a discussion that can be kicked into the long grass. Ministers need clear direction and the confidence that the prime minister is fully behind the bold changes necessary to regain public support.”

A senior Labour source said: “Dave Watts is not a usual suspect. He has always been a leadership loyalist.

“But he was the elected chair of the PLP for many years, and he’s right about Starmer. I think he is saying out loud what many in the PLP are thinking and whispering quietly to each other.

“These voices are only going to get louder. And no amount of Comical Ali spin from No.10 can change that.”

Starmer insisted on Friday morning that he took responsibility for Labour’s terrible performance, but insisted he will not “walk away” from Downing Street.

Burnham was a Labour MP from 2001 until 2017, but has made no secret of his desire to return to Westminster.

He tried to be Labour’s candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election, but was blocked from standing by the party’s ruling national executive committee under orders from the PM.

However, speculation is mounting that a Labour MP is ready to trigger a by-election to allow Burnham to mount another comeback attempt.

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