Deluded Keir Starmer STILL says he can be PM into the 2030s as Labour rivals fight over his job

By JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 16:16, 18 May 2026 | Updated: 16:29, 18 May 2026 Keir Starmer insisted he still wants to be PM into the 2030s today despite Labour rivals scrapping over his job.  The premier sounded defiance about his prospects, vowing not to 'walk away' even if potential successor Andy Burnham succeeds in making a Commons return. The Manchester Mayor is seen as almost certain to get the top job should he manage to win the Makerfield by-election.  However, anxiety is rising in Labour ranks at the consequences if the contest – likely to be on June 18 – is lost to Reform. Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner are waiting in the wings as the party teeters on the edge of outright civil war. Outgoing MP Josh Simons officially quit this morning, taking on the traditional post of Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds.  Even fans of Mr Burnham say his chances of success could be worse than 50-50, with polls having consistently shown Nigel Farage's outfit on track to win. Mr Burnham tried to quell a Brexit storm today as he pinned his by-election hopes on a lurch to the Left. Keir Starmer sounded defiance about his prospects, vowing not to 'walk away' even if potential successor Andy Burnham succeeds in making a Commons return The Manchester Mayor is seen as almost certain to get the top job should he manage to win the Makerfield by-election The Greater Manchester mayor confirmed that he thought leaving the EU had been 'damaging', but stressed he 'respected' the referendum result and was not pushing for re-entry to the bloc.  The comments came as he tries to fend off a Reform challenge in the Brexit-backing Makerfield constituency. Previously Mr Burnham called for the restoration of ties with Brussels 'in my lifetime'.   Giving a speech to a Northern investment summit, he also hit out at 'Neoliberalism' and 'trickle-down' economics, complaining that wealth had been 'siphoned off' from workers. Mr Burnham indicated that the North would get more funding at the expense of the South, arguing that the reverse had been true in a political system that had been failing for 40 years.  But while his potential replacements manoeuvre, Sir Keir showed little sign of budging on a visit in North London this afternoon.  'I do want to fight the next election. Obviously, I recognise that after the local election results, the elections in Wales and Scotland as well, that the first task is obviously turning things around and making sure that my focus is in the right place,' the premier said. 'The last 10 days, there's been a lot of activity, which hasn't been as focused in my view as it should have been, and I remind myself every day that I was elected to office to serve the people, to serve the country, that's what I believe in, and that's what I'll be getting on with.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.