Starmer has ‘absolutely no authority’, says Labour peer as pressure grows on PM to step aside for Burnham – UK politics live

From 4h agoStarmer has 'absolutely no authority,' says Labour peer Labour peer Charlie Falconer said Keir Starmer has “absolutely no authority” because “everybody assumes” Andy Burnham will challenge for the leadership and is likely to win Falconer, who served in the cabinet under Tony Blair, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that Starmer could have “at most weeks to go”, leaving him unable to effectively control his cabinet, command the Commons or deal with allies or opponents Jeremy Corbyn said he felt the debate on the potential leadership battle between Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham focused more on personality than politics, which he found “very strange”.",},{,},{,},{,},{,},{,},{,},{,},{,"prefix","text","role","url"}],},{,},{,}],"id":,}"> Lack of policy in leadership debate 'very strange' – Corbyn Comment: Burnham has shown that he can win. But can he govern? Starmer has 'absolutely no authority,' says Labour peer Burnham has shown he can beat Reform and deserves chance to make his case for leadership, says Phillips What will ‘change’ look like if Andy Burnham becomes prime minister? Starmer under pressure to agree to a timetable to relinquish power Corbyn took issue with Burnham’s position on Gaza, an issue that has cost Labour support among some voters and driven others to back independent candidates or the Greens instead He added: “It seems to me that if there’s going to be a change, then there’s got to be some significant policy changes as well “The unpopularity of the government stems from the threats to welfare benefits, stems from the continuing austerity and is deeply unpopular for a lot of other policies, particularly its rather draconian attacks on rights of assembly and freedom of speech “So I think Burnham needs to come out with something that is a bit different.”Lack of policy in leadership debate 'very strange' – Corbyn Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he felt the debate on the potential leadership battle between Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham focused more on personality than politics, which he found “very strange” “All of the media are very focused on a debate between the personalities, and no stage does any policy debate actually come into it, which I find very strange,” he told Sky News Corbyn, who beat Burnham in 2015 for the Labour leadership, said he gets on well with the newly elected Makerfield MP but disagrees with his economic policies, which seemed to him “to be accepting too much of the austerity that we’ve had imposed upon us and doesn’t appear to be doing anything, as I can see it, differently internationally” John Harris Andy Burnham is closing in on Downing Street after a big win in the Makerfield byelection. John Harris and John Domokos take a deep dive into a place where people’s lives back up Burnham’s insistence that we’re living in an economy and society that need radical change – but they also find an infectious spirit of optimism Burnham's Britain: six days in the place that just changed our politics – videoComment: Burnham has shown that he can win. But can he govern? Gaby Hinsliff Having literally campaigned in poetry, the new Makerfiel