Kemi Badenoch has warned Andy Burnham that replacing Sir Keir Starmer will not automatically solve Labour’s political difficulties, arguing that a change of Prime Minister alone cannot fix deeper problems facing the government.
Speaking during Sir Keir’s final Prime Minister’s Questions, the Conservative leader said Labour’s challenges could be “only just beginning” as Burnham prepares to take over the party leadership and enter Downing Street next week.
Burnham is set to be formally confirmed as Labour leader on Friday after becoming the only candidate to secure the required nominations, ending a leadership contest before it began.
Badenoch compared the move to recent Conservative leadership changes, arguing that replacing leaders such as Boris Johnson and Liz Truss failed to address wider issues facing the party.
“Changing Prime Minister is not a silver bullet,” she told MPs, warning that Labour’s problems were rooted beyond the individual occupying No 10.
Burnham now faces pressure to demonstrate that his leadership can deliver a change in economic performance, public confidence and government direction as he inherits a party facing significant challenges.
The Conservative leader’s intervention signals that the opposition intends to frame the transition as a change of personnel rather than a solution to Labour’s underlying difficulties.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mrs Badenoch said: “I say this to Labour MPs with as much goodwill as I can muster. We have been where you are; changing Prime Minister is not a silver bullet. In fact it may be that the Labour Party’s troubles are only just beginning.
“Solving the fundamental problems will require difficult decisions, and you also need to know how to get things done. The Prime Minister once said that when he pulled the levers, nothing happened. Why did he think that was?”
Mrs Badenoch asked Starmer does he have any advice for Mr Burnham, Sir Keir replied: “I will give my wholehearted support to my successor. I want this Labour Government to be a success, I want our country to be a success.
“I shall give my support privately if asked for, not publicly when not asked for.”
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