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It’s all quite bizarre, to say the least. A prime minister vowing to stay in office while pledging to support a by-election candidate who wants his job. Speaking to staff at Labour HQ, Sir Keir Starmer said the coming contest in Makerfield would be a battle between Labour and Reform. “That is the fight we are in,” the PM said.
But it is also clearly the backdrop to a battle for the future of Labour and the government. If the Greater Manchester Mayor Burnham is confirmed as Labour's candidate and wins the seat (that’s a very big if), all of Westminster expects him to launch a leadership challenge against the PM. And at that point he may be joined by other contenders, too.
But after last week’s political bedlam there may now be a lull of sorts. The by-election isn’t expected to be held until mid-June. Despite the public calls for Starmer to quit from scores of Labour MPs and the resignation of Streeting as health secretary, no leadership contest has yet been triggered.
The PM remains defiantly in his job. Today came a warning from his deputy, David Lammy, who said many weeks of “introspection” and “internecine warfare” would leave Labour in “desperate trouble”.
Over the weekend Streeting said he wanted the UK rejoin the EU at some point in the future. That is not government policy but well may be a pitch that appeals to Labour party members.
Burnham, battling to win a Brexit-backing constituency, said he respects the EU referendum and is “not proposing that the UK considers rejoining the EU”. Earlier today he added that his plan for Makerfield “will be ambitious”, involving action to make basics “like rent, bills and fares” more affordable. Can he keep his by-election campaign and questions about a possible Burnham premiership separate for the next few weeks? No chance.
The essential: This is already an extraordinary position for a governing party with a massive majority to find itself in. A debate about its purpose, record, deficiencies and policies has exploded into the open.
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