According to the BBC and The Guardian, Starmer’s allies privately describe the coming days as politically “perilous”, amid growing unease over Labour’s electoral direction and declining support base.
NewsWorldWho is Andy Burnham, the man challenging Keir Starmer for Britain's top job?
Burnham won a by-election in Makerfield, northwest England, last week an election effectively designed to return him to parliament and clear his path to a leadership challenge.
4 min readJun 22, 2026 10:57 AM IST
First published on: Jun 22, 2026 at 10:54 AM IST
Labour party's Andy Burnham speaks after winning the Makerfield by-election, paving the way for a leadership challenge against Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. in Wigan, England. (Photo: AP)
UK is facing a change at the top. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the leader of the centre-left Labour Party who swept to power in a landslide election two years ago, is under mounting pressure to resign with speculation he could announce his departure as soon as Monday. US President Donald Trump added to the pressure on Sunday, claiming on Truth Social that Starmer “will resign,” citing what he called failures on immigration and energy policy.
As Starmer’s authority has crumbled, one name has emerged as the frontrunner to replace him: Andy Burnham, the outgoing mayor of Greater Manchester, who last week won a parliamentary by-election widely seen as clearing his path to a leadership challenge. Here is what you need to know about the man who could soon be heading to Downing Street.
Who is Andy Burnham?
Burnham, 56, is one of Britain’s most recognisable regional politicians, having served as Greater Manchester’s mayor since 2017. Before that, he spent 16 years as a member of parliament, rising through the ranks of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s governments to become health secretary.
Labour party candidate Andy Burnham arrives at the Edge Wigan for the Makerfield by-election result announcement in Wigan, England. (Photo: AP)
He ran twice for the Labour Party leadership
in 2010 and 2015
losing the second contest to veteran socialist Jeremy Corbyn.Story continues below this ad
How did he get here?
Burnham won a by-election in Makerfield, northwest England, last week an election effectively designed to return him to parliament and clear his path to a leadership challenge. Without a seat in parliament, he was constitutionally unable to run for the Labour leadership, regardless of his popularity.
His Makerfield win
defeating the right-wing populist Reform UK party decisively, weeks after Labour was routed in local elections gave him both the eligibility and the momentum to mount a challenge.
Why is he popular?
Burnham built his reputation in Manchester by positioning himself as an outsider to Westminster politics despite spending most of his career inside it.
As mayor, he oversaw improvements to Greater Manchester’s public transport network, launched a major home-building programme, and presided over a period of economic growth in the city region. Story continues below this ad
Supporters of Britain’s Labour party MP Andy Burnham show placards before his speech after the Makerfield by-election in Wigan, England. (Photo: AP)
His deputy mayor described him as someone with a clear ambition for Manchester’s economic success and social inclusion.
His nickname, “The King of the North,” captures his appeal: a politician seen as standing up for England’s north against a London-centric political establishment.
What does he actually stand for?
Burnham describes his politics as “Manchesterism” a blend of business-friendly economics and greater public control of essential services such as housing, water, energy and transport.
Think-tank founder Mathew Lawrence, seen as one of the intellectual voices behind Burnham’s platform, describes it as devolving power away from Westminster and ensuring economic growth directly benefits working people rather than trickling down from the top.Story continues below this ad
Labour Party campaigners take a selfie at their headquarters during the by-election in Makerfield, England, Thursday, June 18, 2026 where voters are choosing a new lawmaker with Andy Burnham
NewsWorld'Beleaguered and bereft': Mandelson’s private messages reveal sharp criticism of Starmer, Downing Street and Labour MPs
Lord Mandelson also raised concerns about policymaking, saying the government did not handle policy “well enough”.
3 min readJun 2, 2026 05:48 AM IST
First published on: Jun 2, 2026 at 05:48 AM IST
Messages released by the UK government show that Lord Mandelson privately criticised Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. (File Photo)
Messages released by the UK government show that Lord Mandelson privately criticised Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Downing Street and Labour MPs.
The documents, running to around 1,500 pages, include exchanges between Lord Mandelson and senior ministers linked to his appointment as the UK’s ambassador to the United States. He was later removed from the role due to his links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.In one message, Lord Mandelson described Downing Street as “beleaguered and bereft” and said it needed a “complete revamp”, the BBC reported.
Concerns over leadership and authority
The messages suggest doubts within government ranks about
Keir’s leadership. In a text sent in May 2025, Lord Mandelson said the prime minister “lacks verve as does the Cabinet as a whole”.
Around the same time, Labour suffered losses in local elections and a by-election. Cabinet minister Pat McFadden wrote: “Awful feeling today. What a shellacking,” according to the BBC.Story continues below this ad
In later exchanges, both men discussed the risk of a parliamentary defeat over welfare reforms. Lord Mandelson warned: “I am not sure that Keir survives that,” while McFadden said defeat or withdrawal of the bill could “destroy his authority”.
Criticism of No 10 operations
The messages also point to frustration with how Downing Street was functioning. McFadden described the situation as “not good”, adding advisers “don’t think they know what they want”.
Lord Mandelson said: “They don’t work as a team… none of them really know what Keir thinks or wants,” the BBC reported.
He added that the system was producing poor results, saying: “Rubbish in, rubbish out.”Story continues below this ad
Views on Labour MPs and policy
In another exchange, McFadden appeared to criticise Labour backbenchers, saying meetings focused on “who can we tax in order to pay benefits to others.”
Lord Mandelson also raised concerns about policymaking, saying the government did not handle policy “well enough”.
Political reaction and publication
The documents were released after MPs voted earlier this year to make them public. Some parts remain redacted for security and privacy reasons, while others have been withheld due to an ongoing police investigation into Lord Mandelson. He denies any wrongdoing.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the messages showed Labour figures speaking differently in private and public.Story continues below this ad
A spokesperson for McFadden said his focus has been on improving opportunities, especially for young people, rather than entitlement.
The BBC reported that the publication is one of the largest of its kind by the government, costing more than £1 million.
Lord Mandelson was appointed ambassador to the US in December 2024. Before that, he had sought support from ministers for other roles, including chancellor of Oxford University.
Some ministers’ messages were not fully available. Nick Thomas-Symonds said his phone had been stolen and he shared what he could recall, an ally told the BBC.Story continues below this ad
The release of the messages has renewed scrutiny of the decision to appoint Lord Mandelson and its political impact.
The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers
According to the BBC and The Guardian, Starmer’s allies privately describe the coming days as politically “perilous”, amid growing unease over Labour’s electoral direction and declining support base.Labour suffered setbacks in recent local elections, losing support to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK as well as the Greens. The results have intensified criticism from within the party, with some MPs reportedly urging Starmer to either step aside or outline a timeline for his departure. Who are Starmer’s contenders within Labour? The turbulence has exposed wider ideological tensions inside Labour, with different factions backing alternative leadership names ranging from Burnham to former party leader Ed Miliband. Attention has now turned to potential successors, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting. Reports suggest allies of Streeting have begun informal preparations for a possible leadership bid if pressure on Starmer worsens, though the minister has publicly continued to back the prime minister. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has also added to speculation around Labour’s future direction after criticising the party’s decision to block Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham from returning to Parliament earlier this year. While Rayner has not openly challenged Starmer, her remarks have fuelled talk of internal divisions. Rayner’s supporters say she is not yet set to be a candidate; however, she is prepared for a possible leadership run. Meanwhile, Labour MP Catherine West has reportedly warned she could trigger a formal leadership challenge if Starmer refuses to clarify his plans. What Starmer is expected to doStory continues below this ad Seeking to regain political momentum, Starmer is expected to outline a reset agenda centred on economic growth, defence, energy security and closer engagement with Europe. Reuters reported that he wants Britain “at the heart of Europe” again, while stopping short of revisiting core Brexit arrangements.
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