Richard Wheeler,political reporter,andDuncan WalkerPA MediaSir Keir Starmer (left) and Andy BurnhamAndy Burnham is expected to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership as pressure mounts on the prime minister to stand down.With the former Greater Manchester mayor winning a seat in Parliament in the Makerfield by-election this week, a growing number of Labour MPs and cabinet members are calling for him to set out a timetable for leaving office.Sir Keir has said he plans to fight any challenge and, if he wins, he would continue as prime minister.However, if he loses, the winner would replace him in Downing Street without the need for a general election.Burnham's emphatic win leaves Starmer and Labour MPs with big decision on leadershipSir John Curtice: Burnham's win against Reform represents remarkable personal successWhy is Sir Keir's leadership under challenge?Labour performed badly in May's local elections, losing almost 1,500 councillors in England, while the party lost power in Wales and recorded its worst ever result for the Scottish Parliament.More than 90 Labour MPs have publicly urged the PM to resign immediately or draw up an exit plan - though more than 150 MPs have either indicated support for Sir Keir or say it is not the right time for a leadership contest.Discontent towards Sir Keir's leadership had been rising before the elections, including over his decision to change direction on three major policies in a month after pressure from within his own party. Sir Keir's decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US also led to questions about his judgement and the wider Downing Street operation.Lord Mandelson was sacked after new information came to light about the depth of his relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.How Rayner, Streeting and Burnham weakened PM in 12 hours of political dramaWhich Labour MPs have come out against Starmer?How would a leadership challenge work?MPs unhappy with Sir Keir remaining in post could try to force a leadership election.This would require 20% of the party's MPs to back a replacement candidate. There are 403 Labour MPs, so the support of 81 would be needed.Once a Labour leadership election is triggered, other candidates could join the contest if they also had 81 backers.Sir Keir would not be required to gather support as he would be automatically on the ballot paper were he to chose to contest the leadership election.
He would continue as prime minister during any contest. No Labour prime minister has ever faced a formal leadership challenge from their MPs.How does the vote to choose a Labour leader work?Party members and affiliated trade union supporters vote by ranking the candidates in order of preference – putting a one next to their favourite, two for their second choice and so on.If one candidate receives more than 50% of first preferences then they will be declared the winner.If not, then the candidate who finishes bottom will be eliminated and the voters who put them first will see their vote moved to their second choice.This process of elimination continues until one candidate receives more than half of the votes.The timetable for the leadership ballot would be decided by Labour's decision-making body, the National Executive Committee (NEC).In 2020, candidates had time to secure their nominations before a ballot took place over a six-week period.That leadership contest was triggered when Jeremy Corbyn announced he would stand down following the party's defeat in the 2019 general election.Who could stand to replace Sir Keir as Labour leader and prime minister?Getty/ Belinda Jiao/ The TelegraphFormer Health Secretary Wes Streeting, newly elected MP Andy Burnham and former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner are considered the main potential challengers to Sir Keir.Are the Downing Street dominoes about to fall?Is it harder than ever to be prime minister?Wes StreetingAfter stepping down as health secretary, Streeting told the prime minister he had "lost confidence" in the Labour leader.He has confirmed that he would enter any potential Labour leadership contest.Streeting is seen as the cabinet's best communicator and can point to a fall in NHS waiting lists as one of his achievements in government.Wes Streeting: Ambitious Labour heavyweight taking a swing at StarmerStreeting suggests NI cut and North Sea drillingAndy BurnhamBurnham has argued Labour "needs to change if we are to regain people's trust".His first stint as an MP ran from 2001 to 2017 when he represented Leigh. He served as a minister in the governments of Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, but failed to win two Labour leadership elections when the party was in opposition.Burnham left Westminster to stand for election as the mayor of Greater Manchester, which he won in 2021.
He was re-elected in 2024.He won the Makerfield by-election on June 18, paving the way for him to challenge Sir Keir as party leader.Who is Andy Burnham? Returning MP who wants to be prime ministerBurnham says Labour has final chance to change after Makerfield by-election winAngela RaynerRayner is favoured by some on the left of the party.She has called for Labour to offer regional mayors more economic powers and raise the minimum wage. "We are in danger of becoming a party of the well-off, not working people," she said.She resigned as deputy prime minister in 2025, after admitting she had not paid enough tax when buying a new home.
However, she has settled £40,000 of unpaid stamp duty and said she has been "exonerated" by HMRC of the accusation that she had "deliberately sought to avoid tax".Angela Rayner: Labour's working-class warrior who is once again a power player'I've been exonerated': Angela Rayner says HMRC has cleared her over flat stamp dutyWhat would happen if Starmer resigns or sets a timetable to leave?Prime ministers hold office unless
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