By GB News (Politics) | Created at 2026-06-17 08:16:40 | Updated at 2026-06-17 13:18:45
5 hours ago
Sir Keir Starmer has dismissed claims by Wes Streeting he has enough support from the Labour backbenchers to launch a leadership challenge next week as "chatter".
The Prime Minister also said that he wants Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham to “have a big role in government” and promised to speak to him after the weekend.
Mr Burnham – who is tipped by bookies to win tomorrow's Makerfield by-election – has already said he will stand for the leadership if former Health Secretary Wes Streeting mounts a challenge.
Yesterday Mr Streeting said he had attracted the support of the necessary 81 Labour MPs to mount a challenge to Sir Keir next week.
Speaking to GB News at the G7 summit, Sir Keir dismissed the leadership claims as "chatter".
Asked if he would challenge the others who wanted to dethrone him to "put up or shut up", Sir Keir said: "What I do every day is remind myself what I'm here to do.
"I was elected to serve the country; other people can say what they like.
"I'm focused on what's my job.
Wes Streeting says he had attracted the support of the necessary 81 Labour MPs to mount a challenge to Sir Keir Starmer next week
GETTY
"My job is to get on and serve the country, bring about the change, try and help solve some of the big global issues that are having such an effect on our economy and our country.
"So I'm here concentrating on that.
"That's the right thing to do, and I think most people would say, 'There's always political chatter, we don't want our Prime Minster getting involved in that'.
"'What we want is our Prime Minister to get on with the job; that (is) we actually elected him in to do, which is get on, do the hard yards, have those discussions with G7 leaders about Iran, made real progress of last week, real progress to get on Ukraine, these are in one sense global issues, but they have a huge impact back at home.'"
Sir Keir Starmer signalled he would look to offer a Cabinet post to Andy Burnham if he were returned to Parliament
Speaking to Sky News, Sir Keir signalled he would look to offer a Cabinet post to Mr Burnham if he were returned to Parliament at the Makerfield by-election tomorrow.
He said: "I want him to have a big role in government."
Sir Keir added he planned to speak to the former Labour minister after the weekend.
The Prime Minister said: "He's a huge asset.
"He's been a fantastic mayor in Manchester.
"And if he comes back into Parliament, I hope he wins in the by-election.
"He'll be a fantastic asset for our party and for the country.
