Starmer ally admits prime minister is ‘unpopular’ but warns of ‘chaos’ if leadership contest triggered – UK politics live

From 2h agoStarmer 'unpopular' but Labour must stop 'internal-facing nonsense', says minister

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics.

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Housing secretary Steve Reed, a close ally of Keir Starmer, has been on the media round this morning urging Labour colleagues to put the “country first, party second”, even as he admits the prime minister is “unpopular”.

When asked by Sky News whether replacing an unpopular prime minister is something the party should consider, he said: “Each of the last four prime ministers, in turn, has been the most unpopular prime minister we’ve ever had.”

He added: “What we need to do is all of us come together behind the prime minister and focus on how we can deliver the change the British public want to see faster.”

A leadership challenge seems all but inevitable, with Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham potentially throwing his hat in the ring, but Reed rather bluntly stated “there is no leadership challenge” and hit out at the “internal-facing nonsense” plaguing the party.

He told the BBC: “If people wanted to gather the nominations then it’s open for them to do that – they would need to find enough Labour MPs that wanted to endorse them but nobody has done that.

“It’s been a very difficult week but we need to take a breath now, take this weekend to reflect on what’s going on, and come back next week and focus on the country we were elected to serve.”

Commenting on reports suggesting Starmer was considering his position last night, Reed told Times Radio “that isn’t true”, adding: “The Labour party will not copy the chaos we saw under the Conservatives.”

Labour MP Josh Simons announced yesterday that he would stand down from his constituency in Makerfield to make way for Burnham to stand as a candidate in a byelection.

Simons said he believed Burnham could “drive the change our country is crying out for”.

“We have lost the trust of those our party was built to serve. It is my unwavering belief that nothing short of urgent, radical, courageous reform will make a difference,” he told BBC Radio Manchester this morning.

Matt Goodwin, the Reform candidate who came second to the Greens in Manchester’s Gorton and Denton byelection, has ruled himself out of running in the upcoming Makerfield byelection.","elementId":"324936b0-38d9-4bf0-b7a5-42e2ae878bb6"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Nigel Farage has said that Reform will “throw absolutely everything at” the contest, which has opened up after the Labour MP Josh Simons stood down on Thursday to allow Burnham to try to challenge Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership.","elementId":"e971e183-a58f-4919-ac10-575fc957bfcf"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Simons had a majority of 5,399 in the 2024 general election, with Robert Kenyon taking 12,803 votes for Reform.","elementId":"bdb9fc90-0e88-4b30-91fb-ae30f279421e"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Kenyon, who was elected to Wigan Council earlier this month, could stand again and has particularly strong credentials. A plumber, like the Green party’s victorious Hannah Spencer in Gorton and Denton, he has also served in the British army, worked for six years in the NHS and grew up in a staunchly Labour family.","elementId":"e41e936f-0a8b-4e30-a7a0-26cc824ded3c"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Goodwin said: “I look forward to supporting a local Reform candidate and doing whatever I can to bring Andy Burnham back down to earth and inflict another defeat on this rotten Labour government in their own backyard. Vote Reform.”","elementId":"f51ac786-8136-4e2b-aa85-fae601403d2d"}],"attributes":{"pinned":false,"keyEvent":true,"summary":false},"blockCreatedOn":1778838851000,"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"11.54 CEST","blockLastUpdated":1778839199000,"blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"11.59 CEST","blockFirstPublished":1778839199000,"blockFirstPublishedDisplay":"11.59 CEST","blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone":"11.59","title":"Goodwin rules himself out of Makerfield byelection","contributors":[{"name":"Ben Quinn","imageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2019/11/14/Ben_Quinn.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d7db834a96f161acdbfd6547d3606faa","largeImageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2019/11/14/Ben_Quinn.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=297a1d09bee05d7004e7a46737ffc547"}],"primaryDateLine":"Fri 15 May 2026 11.59 CEST","secondaryDateLine":"First published on Fri 15 May 2026 09.50 CEST"},{"id":"6a06db508f0871867a244696","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

UK government borrowing costs have jumped at the start of trading, and the pound has fallen, as City traders respond to the news that Andy Burnham now has a chance to become Labour’s next leader.","elementId":"4bca74f7-631e-4091-ae86-e4439b138880"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

UK bond prices have dropped at the start of trading, which pushes up the yield (or interest rate) on these gilts, while the pound has dropped against the US dollar.","elementId":"f4f0a9a7-734b-40c9-bbdb-860bf9f56b6b"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Yesterday, UK bond yields hit their lowest level since Monday after Wes Streeting failed to launch a leadership challenge as he quit the cabinet.","elementId":"aa95803f-dcde-4d7b-8347-78b9792df13f"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

This morning, the yield on UK 10-year bond is up 11 basis points (0.11 of a percentage point) to 5.11%, suggesting concerns that the UK could aim to borrow more under a new prime minister.","elementId":"6441c65f-7b26-43e9-9fff-9710a532afc9"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Thirty-year bond yields are up 11 bps too to 5.76% – not far from the 28-year high of 5.81% hit on Tuesday.","elementId":"c2e43b16-073b-4d89-b910-6de62779362a"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Other government bond yields (such as the US and Japan) are rising too this morning, but UK borrowing costs are moving somewhat more sharply.","elementId":"98d951c8-2e5d-4ad7-89d6-17002ad02cc2"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

The pound has hit its lowest level in five weeks, down more than half a cent at one point to $1.333.","elementId":"83273325-d861-4df9-ad2b-dcd63088e94e"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

For more updates and other financial news, follow our business live blog here:","elementId":"9f66ab00-0166-427a-b46d-439fd62d31df"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement","prefix":"Related: ","text":"UK borrowing costs rise and sterling falls as City traders brace for Burnham; Reform donor Christopher Harborne joins UK rich list – Business live","elementId":"7f593b87-0c44-4830-bd3e-da735b6c7859","role":"thumbnail","url":"https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2026/may/15/rich-list-sunday-times-billionaires-reform-donor-christopher-harborne-hinduja-radcliffe-dyson-beckham-live-updates"}],"attributes":{"pinned":false,"keyEvent":true,"summary":false},"blockCreatedOn":1778834256000,"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"10.37 CEST","blockLastUpdated":1778834556000,"blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"10.42 CEST","blockFirstPublished":1778834556000,"blockFirstPublishedDisplay":"10.42 CEST","blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone":"10.42","title":"UK borrowing costs rise and sterling falls as traders brace for Burnham","contributors":[{"name":"Graeme Wearden","imageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/static/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/contributor/2014/5/7/1399476600504/Graeme-Wearden.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e3e4394eb9ff3c21f96ba37767603f50","largeImageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2017/10/06/Graeme-Wearden,-L.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e7c6ad839ffcd2d7612b7976017923ac"}],"primaryDateLine":"Fri 15 May 2026 11.59 CEST","secondaryDateLine":"First published on Fri 15 May 2026 09.50 CEST"},{"id":"6a06d2ca8f086f4020ef7b91","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Labour MP Josh Simons, who stood down from his seat in Makerfield to pave the way for Andy Burnham’s return, said his decision was one of the “most difficult” he’s made, but that he’s “absolutely” confident the Greater Manchester mayor can win a byelection.","elementId":"fdfe4b8a-2da0-4b86-813c-3f5c68f79c3e"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

He told the BBC he spoke to Burnham’s team “for the first time seriously about this earlier this week”, adding: “It’s all been incredibly fast.”","elementId":"b7e43c91-1643-4470-9f67-38527765d783"},{"displayCredit":true,"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement","role":"inline","media":{"allImages":[{"index":0,"fields":{"height":"4724","width":"5906"},"mediaType":"Image","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/074f45cb80cbaae237a716fc2c4f867e2540c4da/0_0_5906_4724/5906.jpg"},{"index":1,"fields":{"isMaster":"true","height":"4724","width":"5906"},"mediaType":"Image","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/074f45cb80cbaae237a716fc2c4f867e2540c4da/0_0_5906_4724/master/5906.jpg"},{"index":2,"fields":{"height":"1600","width":"2000"},"mediaType":"Image","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/074f45cb80cbaae237a716fc2c4f867e2540c4da/0_0_5906_4724/2000.jpg"},{"index":3,"fields":{"height":"800","width":"1000"},"mediaType":"Image","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/074f45cb80cbaae237a716fc2c4f867e2540c4da/0_0_5906_4724/1000.jpg"},{"index":4,"fields":{"height":"400","width":"500"},"mediaType":"Image","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/074f45cb80cbaae237a716fc2c4f867e2540c4da/0_0_5906_4724/500.jpg"},{"index":5,"fields":{"height":"112","width":"140"},"mediaType":"Image","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/074f45cb80cbaae237a716fc2c4f867e2540c4da/0_0_5906_4724/140.jpg"}]},"elementId":"ace6bb74-dbdc-409c-ab70-49f2735aad97","imageSources":[{"weighting":"inline","srcSet":[{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/074f45cb80cbaae237a716fc2c4f867e2540c4da/0_0_5906_4724/master/5906.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b604e945011aa713843b6b67dc0b0db4","width":620},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/074f45cb80cbaae237a716fc2c4f867e2540c4da/0_0_5906_4724/master/5906.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4a104b8292e556ef65be8f83d80ea0e5","width":1240},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/074f45cb80cbaae237a716fc2c4f867e2540c4da/0_0_5906_4724/master/5906.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3bbc0fbc72b975a8f0167bbd1edcaf8b","width":605},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/074f45cb80cbaae237a716fc2c4f867e2540c4da/0_0_5906_4724/master/5906.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=df11924ea6a5e7797644ff67b99a97e8","width":1210},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/074f45cb80cbaae237a716fc2c4f867e2540c4da/0_0_5906_4724/master/5906.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c061542d40ba4ccad94a6e3beb28a0bb","width":445},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/074f45cb80cbaae237a716fc2c4f867e2540c4da/0_0_5906_4724/master/5906.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=9004173726061ffcaac3034811d44537","width":890}]},{"weighting":"thumbnail","srcSet":[{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/074f45cb80cbaae237a716fc2c4f867e2540c4da/0_0_5906_4724/master/5906.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=dfa34db9f642ea6ae786e7e89c840c1f","width":140},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/074f45cb80cbaae237a716fc2c4f867e2540c4da/0_0_5906_4724/master/5906.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=91342f1e14465a4b9818c674215d8dcc","width":280},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/074f45cb80cbaae237a716fc2c4f867e2540c4da/0_0_5906_4724/master/5906.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6718efefd4ed294b637a087e95daee36","width":120},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/074f45cb80cbaae237a716fc2c4f867e2540c4da/0_0_5906_4724/master/5906.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=eb8ce5ce68538885ace7b7dce38f460a","width":240}]},{"weighting":"supporting","srcSet":[{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/074f45cb80cbaae237a716fc2c4f867e2540c4da/0_0_5906_4724/master/5906.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=cf655325a3316e710c21d833b6727194","width":380},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/074f45cb80cbaae237a716fc2c4f867e2540c4da/0_0_5906_4724/master/5906.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=46da5c24e4c5f2e8acaab78727751e29","width":760},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/074f45cb80cbaae237a716fc2c4f867e2540c4da/0_0_5906_4724/master/5906.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b95ef0f9b40da29b1ce6ced3ffbca520","width":300},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/074f45cb80cbaae237a716fc2c4f867e2540c4da/0_0_5906_4724/master/5906.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8c87ba90ac3b3ef952aecd0ae4ff7dd6","width":600},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/074f45cb80cbaae237a716fc2c4f867e2540c4da/0_0_5906_4724/master/5906.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b604e945011aa713843b6b67dc0b0db4","width":620},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/074f45cb80cbaae237a716fc2c4f867e2540c4da/0_0_5906_4724/master/5906.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4a104b8292e556ef65be8f83d80ea0e5","width":1240},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/074f45cb80cbaae237a716fc2c4f867e2540c4da/0_0_5906_4724/master/5906.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3bbc0fbc72b975a8f0167bbd1edcaf8b","width":605},{"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