Lisa Nandy: Keir Starmer Faces Personal Choice on Labour Leadership Challenge
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has stated that whether Sir Keir Starmer chooses to fight a potential leadership contest is a "personal decision" for him. Nandy, an ally of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, also expressed her support for Burnham to be "back in Parliament at the heart of power". Burnham is currently seeking to become Labour's candidate in the Makerfield by-election, a move widely interpreted as a prelude to a leadership challenge should he win.
Sir Keir, who would automatically be on the ballot, previously told journalists he would contest any such election. Nandy, representing Wigan, affirmed her loyalty to Starmer, stating she would not be in his cabinet if she believed he should be replaced. She pointed to Starmer's 2024 general election victory as evidence of his fighting spirit, yet acknowledged that last week's election results indicated a public desire for Labour to show "more fight".
Nandy campaigned with Burnham in Makerfield, noting that constituents wanted "voices from our part of the country" to be heard more prominently in government. She herself, having run against Starmer in 2020, has ruled out standing in any future contest. Labour's National Executive Committee recently cleared Burnham to seek selection in Makerfield, after MP Josh Simons resigned to facilitate his candidacy. Despite a challenging electoral landscape, with Reform UK performing strongly in the area's local elections, Burnham's supporters believe his personal popularity in Greater Manchester could secure a win.
Simons described the Makerfield contest as "existential" for Labour, framing it as a test of whether the party can regain working-class trust. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, however, dismissed the leadership concerns, stating, "It doesn't matter whether it's Andy Burnham or Keir Starmer, the problem is the Labour Party." This internal Labour discussion follows calls from nearly 90 Labour MPs for Starmer to resign and the departure of five ministers, including former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who has confirmed his intention to stand in a leadership race. Streeting recently suggested rejoining the European Union would be a "catastrophic mistake", while Nandy, a former Remainer, argued that focusing solely on the EU ignores deeper issues of deindustrialisation and declining living standards in towns like Wigan.