Labour leadership contest begins as Streeting and Burnham challenge Starmer

An ally of the prime minister says No 10 has spent months focused on two questions: whether Wes Streeting would challenge Sir Keir Starmer and whether Andy Burnham would try to return to Parliament to do the same.

Streeting's team said yes. Starmer's team said no. The question has become academic. Streeting has resigned from government to prepare a leadership bid. On Thursday morning, No 10 learned that Burnham had found an MP willing to stand down so he can contest the Makerfield seat and launch his own campaign.

The contest to replace Starmer is now under way, even if it is not yet official.

Some cabinet ministers say the public is horrified that Labour is moving to replace its leader so soon after the election. Others say the results of last week's local elections must be respected. Either way, the party's factions have decided that a leadership race should start.

If the challengers have their way, a contest could run through the summer and produce a new leader by the party conference in late September. Starmer would still have several months in office.

Senior figures disagree on whether a full contest is inevitable. One minister said Burnham and Streeting should reach an accommodation to avoid a damaging fight. Another predicted that Burnham's momentum would deter other candidates and produce a swift coronation. Others in government are angry at Burnham and insist the party must hold a contest to settle its differences.

Burnham's path is not guaranteed. Reform UK plans to pour resources into Makerfield to block him. The party is cash-rich and leads national polls, while Labour is short of both money and popularity.

Ministers say they do not know what would happen if Burnham lost. Some wonder whether his supporters would back Angela Rayner or return to Starmer. Nothing is certain in 2026.

Starmer still faces immediate decisions. Britain and France are trying to assemble a coalition of about 40 countries to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. A Nato summit on defence spending and an EU summit on closer ties are both approaching.

At home, a long-delayed defence spending plan sits on the prime minister's desk. A consultation on tighter rules for children's social media is about to close. Millions of households are waiting to learn whether they will receive help with energy bills before expected price rises. A promised review of fuel duty has not yet reported.

Larger structural issues also need attention. Social care for the elderly and a promised welfare reform programme remain unresolved.

One cabinet minister said Starmer must continue to govern while he remains in office. Others note that many Labour MPs and ministers already assume he will not lead the party into the next election, which limits his ability to push through controversial measures.

Colleagues say Starmer's main weakness is not communications or fading authority but a reluctance to make decisions quickly. They compare the delays to those that frustrated colleagues of Theresa May and Boris Johnson.

The biggest choice now facing Starmer is whether to step down before a contest begins or to fight to stay. Many of his MPs, ministers and the trade unions have said he should not lead Labour into the next election. Standing for re-election would risk a public defeat.

Even some of his close allies say it is hard to predict what he will do. One source said the immediate frenzy has passed and No 10 now has time to decide its next steps.