UK PM Starmer May Step Down for Mayor Burnham, Telegraph Reports

LONDON, May 16. /TASS/. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer could voluntarily step down in favor of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, The Daily Telegraph reported.

On May 14, Burnham announced plans to run in a by-election for the House of Commons (lower house of the parliament) from the Makerfield constituency in northern England. On May 15, the ruling Labour Party’s National Executive Committee approved his candidacy. If elected to the parliament, Burnham could potentially seek the post of UK prime minister.

In January, Burnham had already attempted to run in a by-election in the Gorton and Denton constituency in Manchester, but Labour leadership blocked his nomination. According to the Sky News TV channel, this decision was driven by a fear that once elected to the parliament, Burnham could try to unseat Starmer as Labour Party leader and prime minister.

Sources cited by The Daily Telegraph said Starmer was considering "all options" and could resign voluntarily despite publicly insisting he is ready to fend off any attempts to challenge his leadership. Such a scenario is possible if different factions within the Labour Party unite around Burnham, the newspaper added. At the same time, the report noted that Starmer is unlikely to resign before the outcome of the Makerfield by-election is clear.