Keir Starmer has been accused of making a “petty and bitter” move by stepping down as an MP just hours before Andy Burnham is due to address the Commons.
Jonathan Haslam, former director of communications at No10 under John Major, said the former Prime Minister’s timing risked overshadowing Mr Burnham as the new Labour leader prepares to set out his vision for the country.
This afternoon, Mr Burnham will speak before MPs for the first time since becoming Prime Minister six weeks ago.
The speech is expected to be Mr Burnham’s chance to outline a positive plan for the country and his government’s priorities, GB News understands.
Speaking to The People’s Channel, Mr Haslam predicted the Prime Minister would “play down” the shock resignation of his predecessor.
“They’ll play up everything that they’ve got from Andy Burnham himself, and it’ll be carrying on with business because Keir Starmer is yesterday’s man,” he said.
“I think it’s rather unfortunate that Starmer has chosen this moment to say farewell.
“It looks rather petty. It looks bitter,” he added.
Keir Starmer has been accused of a ‘petty and bitter’ move by stepping down as an MP hours before Andy Burnham’s speech
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Mr Haslam said Sir Keir should have sought to leave Westminster with greater dignity, arguing that the former Labour leader had little reason to remain in Parliament after losing power.
“He’s yesterday’s man. He’s not on the shadow cabinet. He’s never going to be in the Shadow Cabinet,” he said.
The former No10 communications chief nevertheless paid tribute to Sir Keir’s achievements, particularly his role in returning Labour to power and his efforts to tackle antisemitism within the party.
“He actually did stand up and root out a lot of the antisemitism that was in the Labour Party. Hopefully all of the antisemitism,” Mr Haslam said.
‘It’s rather unfortunate that he has chosen this moment to say farewell,’ former No10 press chief Jonathan Haslam said
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GB NEWS
“I think that that is a matter of lasting tribute. And what he’s done today seems to me to be rather tarnishing that particular success story that he’s got.”
Mr Haslam suggested the former Prime Minister could eventually establish a new political role outside Westminster.
Still, he warned that he currently lacked the political network enjoyed by former Labour prime ministers such as Tony Blair.
“There is a possibility there that he can forge a new identity. I don’t think this is the best start,” he said.
Mr Burnham will deliver his first speech to MPs as Prime Minister
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He said Sir Keir could potentially contribute to issues including violence against women and girls, but was more critical of his record on defence.
“I’m less certain about a man who really didn’t take the UK’s defences as seriously as he should have,” Mr Haslam said regarding a mooted role as Nato General Secretary for the former Prime Minister.
“Tony Blair did. I mean, yes, he’s well known. And he stood up, but he has no power, authority to do anything for anybody.”
Mr Haslam concluded that Sir Keir was unlikely to remain at the centre of political life in the immediate future, saying: “I don’t think we’re going to be hearing a great deal from Keir Starmer just at the moment.”
