Could this be an interesting week for No 10?

[Justanotherdramalama]

Just been catching up on the news and it's obvious a plot is well underway to oust Starmer and replace him as leader of Labour and the PM of the UK. Starmer has lost the support of his country, party, polls and the media. Should he resign before he's pushed?

Can Keir survive? Inside the plot to bring down the prime minister | Keir Starmer | The Guardian share.google/4yIpECF0M5QMqM9or

I think there is interest in Burnham. He is well liked in Manchester apart from some vocal anticongestion charge people.
I've worked with him on various projects and he is great. I think he would do a good job.
He obviously needs to become an MP first though!

@ShesTheAlbatross it's like we have entered a new era of politics where changing frequently is the new normal. I am mid 40s so remember back to Maggies day, I don't remember such a strong push to get rid of someone so early. Mutterings and small pockets of gossip by one or two members yes, but not on this scale. Badenoch is certainly up for the chop next.

Very telling when asked outright, he didn't deny that he would run for MP. Nice to read your personal story of him and that he's nice. Kier is way to much into global politics and less into domestic affairs in my opinion. I think AB would be the other way.

One things for sure politics is never boring!

Why?

Exhibit A: Mastermind

He can’t even run as leader. He’s not an MP now - he’s a mayor.

We've discussed that above @Boomer55 he could get in via a by election.

@Justanotherdramalama Starmer isn’t great at politics. Starmer isn’t great at leadership. Labour’s huge issue is they don’t have competent leaders waiting in the wings. They have opposition ya boo plliticians who haven’t done much other than have a go at the Tories. That’s unbelievably easy in opposition. Being in power is very different and it’s found them out.

Andy Burnham? What seat? Would Reform beat him? Highly possible. The king of Manchester might find it difficult to get elected. It’s dangerous. He’s got an easy political life in Manchester and little in fighting. Nothing like Westminster.

As for the others, very poor choice and no obvious candidate. All been shuffled around and they are mostly second rate. They didn’t need to be great to win voters over. They have huge limitations and MPs who only talk about their constituents are not great leaders in waiting. Many have acted like student politicians. They have no political thought - just complaints. It’s not good enough but I’m not surprised.

@TizerorFizz agree with your points and also wonder how AB would cope in Westminster and all that entails. How many have we seen come in over the years and leave in tears. It's a very interesting situation worth keeping a close eye on for sure.

In fairness to him, he was in the cabinet for three years, including a year as health secretary. That’s more experience in government than most of the current cabinet (possibly more than all of the current cabinet, I can’t be bothered to properly check).

@ShesTheAlbatross Most don’t have experience. Yvette Cooper and Lammy? The problem with Burnham is no seat, jeopardy of losing, not having the depth of experience and having as easy ride in Manchester. It’s easy to snipe from the outer regions that aren’t mainstream politics. Life has changed now. It’s very messy inside Labour with too many MPs being cheer leaders and not political thinkers. They are not good enough.

.

Oh, I didn’t realise being good at quizzes was a prerequisite for political office! The hustings would be fun…
I would rather take into account his Masters from Harvard and his visiting lectureship at SOAS…..

@CurlewKate Being academic makes you good at being academic. It’s not leadership or politics. Lammy had done well at the FO and I think it’s a shame they moved him.

Burnham, be careful about assuming he’d walk into a seat. Labour are losing votes to Reform.

I don’t even think it’s just about reform (although I’m not denying their significance). If someone steps aside to call a by election so that he can run, are people going to just be a bit irritated. A sense of “look I came out to vote for you only just over a year ago, and now because you want to plot over the leadership, you want me to come out again to vote someone else in?”

@ShesTheAlbatross Are there not Labour MPs suspended? Someone will fall by the wayside!

Being good at quizzes makes you being good at quizzes.

Yes but suspended doesn’t mean they are giving up their seat. It takes a fair amount to force a by election.

People have such short memories. Burnham is an excellent mayor but a very average Cabinet Minister. He was the very definition of a yes man and has stood as Party Leader twice before & been rejected. I also think it’s far too early to defenestrate Starmer & that the next Labour leader needs to be female.

@luckylavender interested in why you think the next L leader should be female?

Would another issue for Burnham be selection? Could Labour HQ prevent him being the candidate in a by election?

Andy Burnham isn’t even an MP at the moment.

@ShesTheAlbatross Well there are ways to persuade them to stand down. Someone might organise a petition.

What do people see in Andy Burnham that makes them think he would be a good Prime Minister?

Do you never read the room every time there’s a Labour leadership election?