Picture this: Britain grappling with a stagnant economy, record-breaking taxes, mounting debt, and a public increasingly anxious about the country’s financial future.
Yet, within the corridors of Labour, a growing number of MPs seem convinced that the answer lies in even bigger government spending.
Enter the brewing storm inside the Labour Party—a push to replace Sir Keir Starmer with someone further to the left.
Labour MPs Push for Change
Across interviews and media appearances, figures like Clive Lewis and Richard Burgon are openly calling for Starmer’s ousting.
Their focus? The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, whom they see as a more authentic socialist alternative.
But replacing a sitting party leader isn’t as simple as it sounds.
The Hurdles for Andy Burnham
Andy Burnham is not currently an MP, having left the House of Commons after losing the Labour leadership contest to Jeremy Corbyn in 2015. That fact alone creates multiple barriers:
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A Labour MP would have to step aside so Burnham could contest a by-election.
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He would need party machinery approval to run—a tricky ask with Starmer loyalists in control.
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Winning the by-election is no guarantee, especially with Reform polling strongly.
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Finally, he would have to secure the leadership itself while under scrutiny from rivals at every stage.
Even if Burnham manages all four, the bigger question remains: would a leftward shift really make Labour more popular?
The Myth of the “Moderate” Burnham
Some view Burnham as a moderate because he stayed out of the Corbyn era chaos.
His campaign even uses the label ‘Mainstream.’ But a closer look at his record tells a different story.
When he ran to succeed Ed Miliband, he positioned himself on the Left, advocating nationalisation, higher public spending, and a higher minimum wage. He continues to champion those policies today.
In short, Labour’s so-called ‘mainstream’ is far from centrist.
Its agenda includes wealth taxes, expanding benefits, and nationalising utilities—positions that naturally attract hardline Corbynites like Lewis and Burgon.
Economic Realities Cannot Be Ignored
Here’s the crux: Britain’s finances are under severe strain.
Pre-pandemic, the deficit was slowly shrinking, but emergency spending during the lockdowns has become permanent.
Taxes are at post-war highs, and national debt now stands at around £40,000 per person, rising by £2,300 each year.
Much of recent borrowing isn’t funding infrastructure—it’s paying interest on existing debt.
In 2024 alone, £105 billion of £150 billion borrowed went to servicing past loans.
That’s more than the defence budget, and welfare remains the largest part of ongoing government spending.
Under Labour, work risks becoming optional, with 30,000 people signing on to long-term sickness benefits each week.
Against this backdrop, calls to expand spending further—on everything from Motability cars to benefits—pose real risks to economic stability.
The Political Incentives Driving the Leftward Pull
For individual Labour MPs, the pressure is clear. Starmer’s attempts to slow benefit growth in June failed because backbenchers know their election chances hinge on appealing to welfare claimants.
Constituency data shows that in 200 seats, Personal Independence Payment claimants outnumber Labour majorities.
Add in trade union influence, and leadership contests naturally tilt left, regardless of broader economic realities.
Starmer Isn’t the Real Problem
While Starmer’s leadership style may frustrate and disappoint, he’s not the root cause of Labour’s challenges.
The real problem is the party’s reluctance to confront the need for sustainable spending.
Any leader stepping into his shoes will face the same hard limits.
A snap general election, in which parties present clear tax and spending plans to voters, may be the only way to force this reckoning.
If ousting Starmer accelerates that timeline, at least some clarity could emerge from the turmoil.