PM Says He Wants Andy Burnham To Have A "Big Role" In Government
Starmer was speaking ahead of the by-election on Thursday (Alamy)
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Keir Starmer has suggested that he would offer Andy Burnham a cabinet job if the Greater Manchester Mayor wins the Makerfield by-election on Thursday.
The Prime Minister also reiterated that he would not walk away from Downing Street, saying that the Labour Party should focus on winning the Manchester mayoral election that would be triggered by Burnham becoming an MP, not a leadership contest.
On Thursday, voters in Makerfield will head to the polls in what is widely seen as the most significant by-election of recent times, with Burnham widely expected to launch a bid to replace Starmer in No 10 if he is victorious.
Speaking to Sky News at the G7 in France, the Prime Minister described Burnham as a "huge asset".
"I'm sure I'll talk to Andy after the weekend, of course I will. I've spoken to him many times in recent weeks," he said.
"He's a huge asset. He's been a fantastic mayor in Manchester. If he comes back into Parliament...He'll be a fantastic asset for our party and for the country."
Asked if he would bring Burnham into his cabinet if the mayor wins in Makerfield tomorrow, Starmer said: "Oh, Andy is a great asset. And, yes, I want him to have a big role in government."
Starmer could face a formal leadership challenge within days of a Burnham victory in Makerfield, with not just Burnham but also former health secretary Wes Streeting expected to launch bids. The resignation of John Healey as defence secretary over defence spending last week put added pressure on the PM's precarious position.
The PM has said he would fight any bid to replace him, but accepted that he has "got to turn things round" following bruising local election results in May.
"That's what I want to do. And I've been very clear about that. Okay. Do I recognise that? That means we've got to turn things around. Yes, I do, but that's what I want to do. But, yes, I recognise ahead of local election results. So we've got to turn that around."
Burnham's biggest obstacle to victory in Makerfield on Thursday is Nigel Farage's Reform UK. A More In Common opinion poll published last week put candidate Robert Kenyon five percentage points behind Burnham (45 vs 40).
