Clive Lewis calls for Andy Burnham to replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader
A Labour MP has become the first to openly demand that Sir Keir Starmer be replaced as Prime Minister by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, reports BritPanorama.
Clive Lewis made the dramatic call during a televised interview on Friday night, urging his party to put “country before party” and move to install Mr Burnham instead. He expressed doubts about Labour’s ability to continue without addressing its leadership crisis, suggesting it was imperative for senior figures to consider bringing Mr Burnham back into Parliament.
Mr Lewis stated, “We need to do what the Prime Minister once said, which is put country before party. And frankly, party before personal ambition.” He emphasized that the current trajectory of the party could not persist without a clear resolution regarding its leadership.
Describing the situation, he noted, “I just don’t see how this can stagger on without any kind of resolution on the horizon.” He made it clear that there is a need for Labour party leaders to act, proposing the necessity for Mr Burnham to be reinstated as a parliamentary candidate, which would pave the way for a potential leadership bid.
His comments signify a notable escalation within the party. In September, he was the first Labour MP to call for Sir Keir’s resignation, coinciding with the dismissal of former US ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson over his connections to Jeffrey Epstein. Previously, Mr Lewis had labelled the current leadership as ineffective, citing the rise of figures such as Nigel Farage as a significant concern for the Labour Party and the country.
Mr Lewis stressed the urgency of the situation, stating, “This isn’t navel-gazing. This is me thinking about my constituents, this country, and the fact that the person who is eight points ahead of us is Nigel Farage. That terrifies me.” His renewed criticism arrives amid a tumultuous period for Labour, which is grappling with internal discontent and accusations of leadership instability.
Just last week, a chaotic briefing from No.10 had attempted to present Sir Keir as prepared to tackle any leadership challenge. However, it backfired, leading to negative headlines and further scrutiny regarding his control over the party. Following this, Sir Keir insisted that he had not authorized the troubling briefing, a claim that did little to quell the backlash.
As tensions within the party escalate, Mr Streeting, the Health Secretary, has fended off speculation regarding his own ambitions for leadership, showcasing the fragile dynamics at play within Labour. Coalition-building and strategic realignments may become increasingly necessary as the party continues to navigate the implications of these public declarations.
This ongoing discourse raises pivotal questions about the future trajectory of Labour, especially in the context of upcoming electoral challenges.
As political forces shift, the implications of leadership decisions could spell significant changes for party dynamics and its standing with the electorate. The Labour Party must now confront these critical moments forthrightly if it aims to maintain its relevance and effectiveness on the national stage.
