Some Press readers have called for a general election to be held after Sir Keir Starmer resigned as prime minister.
Sir Keir’s decision to stand down on Monday (June 22) means Labour will now hold a contest to choose his successor with Andy Burnham seen as the frontrunner.
Some readers called for the public to have their say on who will take over as prime minister.
Writing on The Press’ Facebook page, Steve Coates said Mr Burnham should not become prime minister, adding: “Call an election.”
Karen Dillon said a general election is needed, writing: “No one should be forced upon the public.”
Tony Mainwaring also said it was “time for [a] general election”. “Let the people of the UK and not 'the party' decide,” he said.
“Nobody voted for him [Andy Burnham], so a general election is needed,” Wayne Holdsworth added.
Other readers, however, said there should not be a general election, pointing to the Conservatives having four prime ministers – Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak – who were appointed without initially being elected at a general election.
“Why should we have a general election when the Conservatives went through four different prime ministers after Cameron resigned and no general elections (one of which was only prime minister for a few weeks),” argued Janet Deveney.
Meanwhile, some readers said wider change was needed at the government rather than just replacing the prime minister.
“There is no point in replacing the captain of ship at the helm if it continues to sail the same course,” wrote Barnsdale Simon.
“Same tune, different fiddle,” William Price added of Mr Burnham.
Davide Dapelo said “both Keir and Andy are very decent guys” but said Brexit had turned a “once stable political model into something worse than post-war Italy”.
“Keir lacked the course of reversing Brexit and got butchered by his own guys, exactly like his predecessors from Cameron onwards,” Davide wrote.
“Andy has already announced that he won't reverse Brexit: he will end up in the same way.”
Recommended reading:
- York MPs back Andy Burnham for prime minister as Keir Starmer resigns
- Next prime minister must invest in York and North Yorkshire, says mayor
- Sir Keir Starmer resigns as Prime Minister with Andy Burnham poised to take over
Mr Burnham appears on course to enter 10 Downing Street within weeks after his main rival, former health secretary Wes Streeting, backed him for prime minister.
If Mr Burnham is the only candidate to receive the support needed to stand in the contest for the vacant Labour leadership, he could become prime minister in mid-July.
Mr Burnham said Sir Keir’s resignation “marks the beginning of a transition”.
“The Labour movement has always been at its strongest when it looks forward with confidence and purpose," he said.
“This is what we will do from here and we will make sure this transition is a positive process of renewal for our party and our country.”
In chaotic scenes at London’s Euston station, Mr Burnham played down the prospect of calling a snap general election if he becomes prime minister.
“You’re jumping several hurdles ahead there,” he told reporters waiting for his late-running train from Manchester.
Share