Senior Cabinet ministers, including Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, have vowed not to resign over the weekend in the wake of the Makerfield by-election.
Andy Burnham’s victory in Makerfield, where he beat Reform’s Robert Kenyon by more than 9,000 votes, has seen suggestions Cabinet allies of Burnham could resign if Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer refuses to set out a timetable for his departure in order to make way for the former Greater Manchester Mayor.
The Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, has also resolved to stay in her post regardless of the result, The i Paper understands.
Sources close to all three ministers – who have been linked to big jobs in the Cabinet if Burnham takes over from Sir Keir Starmer – said they had no plans to quit ahead of Burnham’s triumph.
Burnham is expected in the first instance to privately urge Starmer to set out a timetable for standing down as Prime Minister.
But with Starmer publicly vowing to fight any leadership challenge, speculation has been rife in Westminster that the Prime Minister could face co-ordinated ministerial resignations similar to the wave of exits which dislodged Boris Johnson from No 10 in 2022.
Miliband’s position is under particular scrutiny, because he is viewed as close to the Greater Manchester Mayor and has been touted as a potential chancellor in a Burnham administration. No 10 was reported to have become increasingly concerned that Miliband would quit, and when asked by the media in recent days, the Cabinet minister has not commented on the speculation.
However, a spokesperson for the Energy Secretary said on Thursday: “Ed has no plans to resign.”
Mahmood is seen as another leading contender for No 11 under a Burnham leadership, but a source close to her told The i Paper: “She’s focused on the job as Home Secretary and has no plans to give it up.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood was reported to have told Sir Keir Starmer to resign last month (Photo: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Getty)A source close to Alexander similarly said that the Transport Secretary was “cracking on” with the job and would not resign.
Despite this, there is a widespread expectation that resignations will follow if Starmer digs in and demands public professions of loyalty from his ministers.
A minister said that Cabinet resignations would be “the next logical step for those who don’t think the PM should continue”.
People on all rungs of the ministerial ladder would be questioning whether they should resign, they added.
A Labour MP said that ministers and other members of the parliamentary Labour Party would soon come under “massive pressure” to either publicly back Starmer or endorse Burnham, Wes Streeting or another leadership contender.
They said it would not be “credible” for individuals to hedge their bets by refusing to endorse someone.
MPs would also want to publicly come out in support of their preferred choice for prime minister to “boost their credentials on the airways” in the hope of securing a ministerial job if they won, the MP said.
Former deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner campaigning in Makerfield. The former housing secretary is expected to return to Cabinet if Burnham becomes PM (Photo: Loannis Alexopoulos/Getty)Meanwhile the former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner appeared to pin her colours to the mast on Thursday by popping up on the doorsteps in Makerfield.
Rayner posted pictures of herself with Labour canvassers on X, together with the message: “Great to be out on the doors with the team for [Burnham].”
Hence then, the article about burnham s cabinet allies won t resign for now was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Burnham’s Cabinet allies won’t resign… for now )
Also on site :