SIR Keir Starmer today brushed off leadership posturing by rival Andy Burnham as “part and parcel” of politics.
The PM insisted there’s nothing new about party leaders being threatened from within their own ranks.
Sir Keir Starmer today brushed off leadership posturing by his rival Andy Burnham[/caption]
The Manchester Mayor has refused to rule out taking on Sir Keir for the Labour leadership title[/caption]
Pressed on manoeuvres by the Manchester Mayor, Sir Keir told the BBC: “Comments about leaders and leadership are part and parcel of being in politics.
“It is the bread and butter of politics.”
The PM added: “Every leader gets it. It’s in the job description.
“I don’t focus on that.
“I focus on what we’ve got to get done.”
Labour’s annual party conference, which starts today, has been overshadowed by a myriad of difficulties for Sir Keir.
The PM arrived in Liverpool plagued by accusations he has failed to control Britain’s borders and get a grip on the economy.
Leadership posturing by Mr Burnham is the latest in a long list of headaches for the Labour leader.
In a thinly-veiled leadership pitch, the Manchester Mayor has attacked the Government’s lack of direction and said MPs have urged him to challenge for the top job.
But the move has also sparked major backlash from MPs who’ve begged him to wind his neck in.
In a bid to re-establish his authority, Sir Keir said he will be “rightly judged” – but only at the end of the five year mandate he was elected on.
Directly addressing his critics, the PM said: “We have got the fight of our lives ahead of us, because we have got to beat Reform.”
