Burnham, Starmer and the Labour leadership | Letters

Readers respond to the former Greater Manchester mayor’s defeat of Reform UK in Makerfield and his return to Westminster

I have long admired Andy Burnham (Cabinet loyalists tell Starmer he has the weekend to set out timetable for exit, 19 June). As mayor of Greater Manchester, he has been a powerful advocate for fairness, inclusion and regional investment. As someone who grew up in Manchester, I am proud of what he has achieved. That is precisely why I was disappointed to hear renewed speculation about a leadership challenge to Sir Keir Starmer.

Many of us voted Labour in 2024 because we wanted stability after years of political turmoil. We were not looking for a political celebrity; we were looking for someone serious, competent and resilient enough to govern in difficult circumstances.