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Politics · 17 June 2026

Starmer warns Burnham against leadership challenge

Starmer warns Burnham against leadership challenge

© UK Parliament / Maria Unger via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

Sir Keir Starmer wants Labour to focus on an upcoming mayoral election, not a leadership battle. He warned Andy Burnham, the Manchester mayor, against challenging him if he wins Thursday's Makerfield by-election. Starmer said a leadership contest would be 'a bad thing' for the country and offered Burnham a cabinet job.

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