According to Harriet Harman, the current moment poses «maximum danger» for Sir Keir Starmer.
Speaking on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast, the Labour peer emphasized that «everyone really wants Keir Starmer to succeed,» despite calls from Labour MPs, including Greater Manchester’s Andy Burnham, to challenge his leadership.
Harman, who served as a Labour MP for 42 years, acknowledged that this period was always going to be challenging, as people are growing weary of blaming the Tories for their hardships without seeing tangible improvements in their lives.
She stressed the importance of Starmer’s success and expressed a desire to avoid the chaos of a leadership challenge at this critical juncture.
Harman noted Burnham’s growing influence and success in Greater Manchester, suggesting that his potential challenge to Starmer might be fueled by concerns about Nigel Farage’s impact on the political landscape.
She also praised Burnham’s ability to connect with voters and highlighted his growth as a political figure since his time in Gordon Brown’s cabinet.
Regarding the speculation about Burnham challenging Starmer, Harman urged for caution and emphasized the importance of focusing on Starmer’s success.
She expressed a desire to avoid the drama and chaos of a leadership election and highlighted Starmer’s resilience in the face of potential challenges to his leadership.
Harman’s comments come in the wake of reports that Labour MPs have been in contact with Burnham about a possible challenge to Starmer’s leadership, a move that Burnham did not outright deny in a recent interview with The Telegraph.
Burnham, who has previously run for the leadership of the Labour Party, emphasized that any decision to challenge Starmer would ultimately be up to those involved.
Now is the critical moment of «maximum danger» for Sir Keir Starmer, as highlighted by Harriet Harman. The Labour peer emphasized the importance of Sir Keir’s success, especially after receiving encouragement from Labour MPs, including Greater Manchester’s Labour mayor, Andy Burnham, to challenge his leadership.
Baroness Harman, a former Labour MP with 42 years of experience, acknowledged the challenging circumstances facing Sir Keir’s leadership. She noted that people are growing weary of blaming the Tories for their struggles without seeing tangible improvements in their lives. This period was identified as the «moment of maximum danger» due to these frustrations.
Despite the calls for a leadership challenge, Baroness Harman expressed a desire for Sir Keir Starmer to succeed without the disruptions of a leadership contest. She highlighted Andy Burnham’s prominent position and acknowledged his potential as a «vote whisperer» due to his success in winning various wards, including traditionally Tory areas.
The anxiety surrounding the possibility of Nigel Farage entering Number 10 was identified as a motivating factor for those pushing for Mr. Burnham to challenge Sir Keir. Baroness Harman expressed confidence in Sir Keir’s ability to defend his leadership position with vigor if such a challenge were to arise.
While acknowledging Mr. Burnham’s growth and success as the mayor of Greater Manchester, Baroness Harman emphasized the importance of continuity and stability within the Labour Party. She underscored the sentiment that many individuals within the party are rooting for Sir Keir’s success and are wary of the potential upheaval that a leadership challenge could bring.
In a recent interview with The Telegraph, Mr. Burnham hinted at the possibility of a leadership challenge, stating that he had been contacted by Labour MPs over the summer. However, he indicated that the decision ultimately lies with those individuals rather than himself. He also alluded to his previous attempts to become the leader of the Labour Party as a reflection of his ambitions and intentions.
As Mr. Burnham is not currently an MP, he would need to win a by-election to be eligible to challenge Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership. While no such by-elections are imminent, the speculation and discussions surrounding potential leadership changes continue to keep the political landscape dynamic and uncertain. Now is the moment of «maximum danger» for Sir Keir Starmer, Harriet Harman has warned. The Labour peer told Beth Rigby on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast «everyone really wants Keir Starmer to succeed» after Greater Manchester’s Labour mayor, Andy Burnham, said **Labour MPs have been urging him to challenge** Sir Keir’s premiership. Baroness Harman, who was a Labour MP for 42 years, said this was always «going to be the most difficult time» because people are «fed up» with hearing it is the Tories’ fault, «yet they’re not feeling better off». «So this was always going to be the moment of maximum danger,» she said. «But I think that what people want is for Keir Starmer to succeed. And they don’t want, I think at this point, the turbulence of a leadership challenge.» She said Mr Burnham, who was in Gordon Brown’s cabinet with her, is «not hiding his light under a bushel in any way, shape or form». But added: «I do not want the drama and chaos of a leadership election. It’s like ‘this guy hasn’t done it, so we’re going to try somebody else’. You know, everybody really wants Keir Starmer to succeed.» Read more: Could Andy Burnham be a serious threat to Starmer? Baroness Harman said she thinks the «anxiety» around Nigel Farage getting into Number 10 is «fuelling» the push for Mr Burnham to challenge Sir Keir. «Keir Starmer would come out absolutely swinging,» she added. But she admitted Mr Burnham is «something of a vote whisperer» and is a very different person from when he served in Gordon Brown’s cabinet with her. She said: «He has actually grown in that position [as mayor] and is something of a vote whisperer. Every single ward which was up for contest in the mayoralty of Greater Manchester, he won, including the die-hard Tory areas. So you know, he has grown, and it’s good to see people grow in politics. This week, Mr Burnham said Labour MPs had contacted him over the summer when asked if they had encouraged him to try to challenge Sir Keir. He told **The Telegraph**: «I’m not going to say to you that that hasn’t happened. «But as I say, it’s more a decision for those people than it is for me.» He added: «I stood twice to be leader of the Labour Party. And I think that tells you, doesn’t it?» As he is not currently an MP, Mr Burnham would have to win a by-election to be able to challenge Sir Keir. There are none on the horizon, yet.
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