A "putsch" to remove the center-left British Prime Minister Keir Starmer by rival factions within his own party is finally taking shape, Politico reports, according to UNN.
Details
"Keir Starmer woke up this morning at 10 Downing Street, but for how much longer? After a week of turmoil for the embattled UK Prime Minister, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has finally made his move, and the roadmap for a leadership change in the UK has suddenly become visible," the publication states.
As the outlet notes, Burnham is seeking a return to the British Parliament through a by-election.
"If he wins, the path to challenging Starmer becomes clear. Today, a meeting of the Labour Party's governing National Executive Committee will take place to consider whether to allow Burnham to run for Parliament in the Makerfield constituency in Manchester," the publication notes.
On Friday, Burnham's path, the outlet points out, "looks clearer as objections to his candidacy from Labour's ruling National Executive Committee appear to have softened."
His potential rival Wes Streeting, who resigned as Health Secretary on Friday, backed Burnham, stating that he should at least have a chance to fight for the seat.
But it is not yet a triumph for Burnham, the publication observes. Nigel Farage has vowed to throw "absolutely everything" into the fight for the Makerfield seat once it begins. Given the strong position of Farage's Reform UK party in local polls, Burnham faces a very difficult struggle, the outlet writes.
In another blow to Keir Starmer, prominent Gen Z MP Rosie Wrighting resigned from her post as an aide in the Department of Health. She was one of the party's most well-known young communicators, the publication writes.
This is accompanied by market fluctuations: after a turbulent week, the City of London is spooked. The pound sterling has fallen as traders "price in the end of the Starmer era and the arrival of a more interventionist Burnham," the outlet writes.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump expressed a less-than-optimistic forecast regarding Keir Starmer's political future.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while returning from China, President Trump weighed in, stating: "It's tough, if he can't settle immigration — where he's weak — and if he doesn't start drilling and stop the windmills everywhere… he's got to open up the North Sea."
The US leader repeated claims that Starmer had repeatedly rejected his advice to allow more drilling in the North Sea, saying: "The oil companies call me every day: 'Please, please, we want to go into the North Sea.' He won't let it happen."
However, he did not say that the UK Prime Minister should resign, despite repeated criticism of his response to the Iranian conflict. "I think he's actually a good man," Trump said. "But, I mean, I didn't like what he said: 'We're going to send ships as soon as you finish the war.' Well, militarily we're almost finished."
But there is no guarantee that an Andy Burnham premiership would resolve the rift in the special relationship, the publication notes. Only two months ago, he said that "the instability that Liz Truss brought to Britain, I think Trump brings to the US and the world."
"For now, the Prime Minister remains in office. But his government faces weeks of open warfare as Burnham attempts to return to Westminster," the publication notes.