The Institute for Government (IFG), a UK think tank, urges Prime Minister Keir Starmer to “put the country first” and to announce the “manner of his exit” if circumstances shift after the Makerfield by-election. Several reports say the IFG’s position is linked to the possibility that Andy Burnham could win the seat. The IFG calls for clarity about how and when Starmer would step aside, framing the request as a way to provide political certainty rather than prolong uncertainty about leadership plans.
The reports highlight that the by-election is seen by some as consequential for the political direction of the Labour Party. In this context, the IFG recommendation focuses on transparency and timing, suggesting Starmer should set out what his departure process would look like should Burnham’s victory make such a scenario more likely. The IFG’s intervention does not claim that a specific outcome is assured, but it presents the idea of a potential change in leadership dynamics as a reason to establish a clear timetable in advance.
