Sir Keir Starmer has begged Andy Burnham not to throw country into “chaos” with a leadership bid.
With voters due to head to the polls in the widely-anticipated Makerfield by-election on Thursday, the days ahead could be make-or-break for the Prime Minister’s tenure.
Ever since launching his campaign, the Mayor of Greater Manchester has refused to shy away from concealing his thinly-veiled ambitions to move into No10.
But, this morning, the serving Prime Minister reiterated to Mr Burnham that he would refuse to “walk away” from his position, citing Labour’s landslide victory with a five-year mandate.
“I don’t think we should have a challenge, because I think it’ll throw the country into chaos,” he told ITV.
“If there is a challenge, I will fight. I’m not going to walk away from this.
“We won a landslide victory just two years ago with a clear mandate to change the country, that’s a five-year mandate.”
To launch an official bid, Mr Burnham would require the backing of at least 81 MPs before being able to formally stage a leadership challenge.
