A recent snap poll conducted by Find Out Now for the Mail on Sunday indicates that Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has surged ahead of his competitors in the race to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader. The survey, which sampled party members eligible to vote in any leadership contest, places Mr Burnham neck-and-neck with the Prime Minister, each garnering 36 percent support.
As Sir Keir contemplates his political exit strategy, these figures are likely to fuel speculation that Labour may ultimately crown Mr Burnham as its next leader. The small-sample poll was carried out after Mr Burnham announced his intention to stand for selection in the Makerfield by-election.
Poll Results Detail
Mr Burnham and Sir Keir both secured 36 percent, significantly ahead of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner on 7 percent, Ed Miliband on 4 percent, and Wes Streeting on just 2 percent. These numbers underscore the challenging path ahead for Mr Streeting in any leadership contest.
Mr Streeting's background as a Blairite and his past associations with Peter Mandelson have reportedly damaged his standing among left-leaning party members. Additionally, his poorly concealed ambitions appear to have hindered his chances.
Other Contenders
After resigning from the Cabinet on Thursday, Mr Streeting seemed to struggle to recruit sufficient MP support to launch a campaign before officially announcing his intention to join any leadership fight. Armed Forces Minister Al Carns, also prepared to run, garnered only 1 percent support among members.
Labour party members expressed confidence—by a margin of more than two to one—that Mr Burnham will win the Makerfield by-election.
Wider Voter Sentiment
A broader poll of all voters found that 54 percent believe Sir Keir should resign as Prime Minister. Of those, 37 percent want him to step down immediately, while 17 percent prefer a timetable for his departure. Only 23 percent think he should remain in office.
Early projections suggest the Makerfield by-election could be a close contest for Mr Burnham. Modelling by Survation indicates that if he contests the seat, he would win 45 percent of the vote, compared to 42 percent for the Reform UK candidate backed by Nigel Farage.
