Prime Minister Keir Starmer is paying a visible political price for unity, forced to publicly praise his potential rival, Mayor Andy Burnham, in a desperate attempt to quell a mounting internal revolt. Starmer’s effusive compliments reveal the depth of his internal vulnerability.
The need for this political sacrifice stems from Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s consistent refusal to rule out a future leadership bid, which has emboldened Starmer’s critics. The Prime Minister’s decision to laud Burnham is an acknowledgement that the Mayor’s regional power can no longer be ignored or dismissed.
Speaking while heading to the G20 summit, Starmer highlighted their “very close” partnership, emphasizing Burnham’s “really impressive” leadership after the Manchester synagogue attack. This public display was aimed at signaling to the party that attacking Burnham is tantamount to attacking a key partner of the government.
The Prime Minister, however, quickly pivoted to attack the internal plotters, forcefully dismissing claims of a coup involving Health Secretary Wes Streeting. Starmer’s core message was that the political price being paid for internal strife—including the distraction from the cost-of-living crisis—is too high.
For his part, Andy Burnham continues to focus on the successful delivery of his £1 billion Manchester growth plan, allowing Starmer’s forced praise to only increase his national standing. The Prime Minister is using political capital to buy time, while Burnham’s value rises.