Burnham latest: Starmer refuses to delay defence plan but pledges smooth transition to new PM – UK Times

There is no constitutional requirement for a general election to accompany a change of prime minister. But PMs have, on occasion, decided to hold an election soon after entering No 10.

Here we look at whether there will be a vote in the next few months – and why some people are arguing there should be one.

Rachel Reeves has vowed the Defence Investment Plan (Dip) will “meet the moment”, having previously been warned a planned funding envelope “falls well short of what is required”.

The Chancellor also said she was “confident” the defence spending plan would be published before this year’s Nato summit, which begins on July 7.

The summit in Ankara, Turkey, had previously been touted by ministers as their deadline for unveiling the strategy.

If the Government meets its deadline, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, who announced his resignation on Monday, will still be in post when it is published.

Deputy prime minister David Lammy on Monday also vowed to meet the Nato summit deadline.

“I can confirm that the Dip will be published before the Nato summit,” he told MPs.

“And I think it is important that the prime minister is in post for that Nato summit.”

It was the husk in his voice as Keir Starmer talked about “my rock” (his wife, Lady Victoria) and his beautiful children – “my pride and joy” – that finally showed his humanity. As he rattled off a list of his arguable “achievements” in office, I had been thinking – just go, we’ve all had enough of you. But just like the “aaah, bless” moment when Gordon Brown left No 10 hand in hand with his sweet little boys, the chink of Starmer’s emotional hinterland made me feel for him.

And then I thought of his super loyal wife. Poor Keir? Poor Vic, more like.

It was fitting that at the end it was his wife whom he called his rock, the one person who was left in the bunker with her beleaguered husband. By all accounts, she was the one whispering into his ear at the weekend, she and the couple’s old friend, the MP Carolyn Harris. An insider told me the scene at Chequers this weekend was “very sad and angry”. I’m not surprised.

Read the full analysis from Eleanor Mills here:

Our political correspondents say:

There is a chance of wholesale change in Andy Burnham’s cabinet which means some surprising figures could be out. Deputy prime minister David Lammy, a close ally of Sir Keir, is widely expected to find himself on the backbenches.

There is also speculation that Mr Burnham would move on from the Morgan McSweeney allies – notably welfare secretary Pat McFadden and housing secretary Steve Reed, even though both are seen as highly competent.

Meanwhile, tech secretary Liz Kendall – who failed previously in the welfare job – is unlikely to land a role in any Burnham cabinet.

One of the issues may be what he would do with the current foreign secretary Yvette Cooper, who was early in telling Starmer that he needed to go. She is likely to survive a potential cull but would likely end up in a different job.

One thing, though, that is always true about new cabinet selections is that there are always surprise names which emerge.

But it may only be a few weeks until we find out.

The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou writes:

Sir Keir Starmer may have paved the way for a row with his potential successor over the publication of his long-awaited Defence Investment Plan (DIP).

Andy Burnham’s team have reportedly said they want the spending plan to be delayed, so the former mayor of Manchester can have the final say on the matter himself.

But the outgoing prime minister has insisted he will be sticking to his previous timetable on its publication, which is still set to be before the Nato summit in Turkey on July 7.

It comes despite Sir Keir having agreed that there will be no new major policy or spending commitments initiated during the period of government transition.

The second potential rival to Andy Burnham is former Royal Marines officer Mr Carns, who is making up his mind whether to launch a leadership campaign.

He told journalists at the Foreign Press Association in London that he had not ruled out running.

He said Mr Burnham would “listen” to the Parliamentary Labour Party and “he’ll take advice on policy ideas, and hopefully he’ll be able to drive them forward at a pace and with the boldness and courageousness that is required to keep that social cohesion and make us successful in the 2029 general election”.

But he said: “A vision without a plan is a dream and if you don’t have it, it can turn into a nightmare pretty quickly.”

Asked whether he would launch his own leadership bid, he said: “A decision is often based on multiple factors. I just need to see and buy into that vision and that policy and then we’ll see where we go from there.

The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou writes:

Prospective Labour leadership candidates will be allowed to take part in access talks ahead of Sir Keir Starmer’s last day in office.

Downing Street confirmed the outgoing prime minister has agreed with cabinet secretary that Civil Service access talks can take place with candidates, which would include Andy Burnham.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said these would take place “as soon as possible” and before formal nominations close.

According to the cabinet manual, access talks with prospective candidates will focus on formation of government and key policy priorities, to enable the civil service to “prepare for any outcome”.

After the prime minister, the role of chancellor is the most important role in government and Mr Burnham’s pick would be the biggest sign of a change of direction from Sir Keir.

It looks almost certain that Rachel Reeves, the current chancellor, would be out of the Treasury – and probably out of government altogether. Along with her would go her economic policy and perhaps her tight borrowing rules – although Mr Burnham has already said he will stick by them.

There are three names being widely discussed to be Mr Burnham’s prospective chancellor – former health secretary Wes Streeting, energy secretary Ed Miliband and home secretary Shabana Mahmood.

These names represent very different approaches to the economy with Ms Mahmood on the right of the party, Mr Streeting the Blairite centrist and Mr Miliband a leading figure on the soft left.

Mr Miliband has been hankering for the job for some time and is a leading contender.

But The Independent revealed over the weekend that Mr Streeting had been asking for the role as part of a deal to drop from his own leadership bid – which he did on Monday.

Both Mr Streeting and Mr Miliband would, in their own ways, be divisive choices. Mr Streeting is deeply distrusted by the left of the party while Mr Miliband’s hard line on net zero policies have made him a controversial figure.

Ms Mahmood is said to want the job and may emerge as the compromise candidate in that scenario. It would also give Mr Burnham a chance to get her out of the Home Office so he could tweak the immigration policy.

That said, with people like Nick Thomas-Symonds and Darren Jones also on the scene, there may end up being a surprise name in the mix.

The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou writes:

The prime minister has told his Cabinet he will seek to make the transition of power in No 10 “as easy as possible”, Downing Street said.

Sir Keir Starmer said on Tuesday that he would “seek to resolve difficult issues in the coming weeks to support his successor”, who is widely believed to be Andy Burnham.

He thanked his Cabinet for their “hard work” and told them “he wanted whoever became the next prime minister to succeed”.

”The prime minister said he’d seek to make the transition as easy as possible, giving his full support to whoever followed in his footsteps,” his official spokesperson said.

Sir Keir Starmer told his Cabinet that he would “seek to resolve difficult issues in the coming weeks to support his successor” and make the transition of leadership “as easy as possible,” Downing Street has said.

A spokesperson added he has also agreed with cabinet secretary Dame Antonia Romeo that the Civil Services access talks can take place with prospective candidates to succeed him.