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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer would take part in any Labour leadership contest if one is triggered, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said Sunday, after media reports said Starmer had contacted key supporters to say he would fight any challenge.
The comments came after northern mayor Andy Burnham, who is standing in a key by-election this month, said last week he would participate in any leadership race, although no contest has been triggered.
Starmer has repeatedly rejected calls to resign and has said he wants to remain leader of the Labour Party after winning the 2024 general election.
Starmer "has been absolutely clear—were there to be a contest—you need 81 signatures (of MPs) to launch a contest—he will be part of that contest," Lammy told Sky News on Sunday.
The prime minister would automatically be included in any leadership ballot if he wanted to participate.
The BBC and The Sun reported Sunday, citing unnamed MPs, that Starmer had been calling key supporters over the weekend to say that if there is a contest, he would "fight it."
The Sun reported, "Sir Keir has hardened his position and is hellbent on running against (Mr.) Burnham."
Burnham is standing to become an MP again in a June 18 vote in Makerfield in northwestern England. If elected, he would be able to take part in a leadership contest.
Burnham said on a BBC talk show Thursday that he would seek to challenge Starmer if he wins the by-election and if a race is triggered.
He said former Health Minister Wes Streeting, who resigned last month with an open letter expressing no confidence in Starmer, "seems to have launched a leadership contest."
"So if that is running, I would seek to join it," Burnham said.
Starmer has repeatedly said he will not resign as Labour leader.
Speaking to the LBC radio station Friday, Starmer said, "I'm not going to walk away."
He added that he did not want to "plunge our country into the chaos of a leadership fight."
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