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Lord Hermer has expressed confidence in Sir Keir Starmer’s ability to withstand a leadership challenge, telling the BBC that his longtime friend can defy the critics. The relationship between the two dates back to 1996 when they worked together as barristers at Doughty Street Chambers, focusing on human rights cases. Following Sir Keir’s decisive election victory in 2024, he appointed Lord Hermer as the government’s chief legal adviser.
In recent developments, several junior ministers, including former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, resigned from the government. Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham—considered a leading candidate in any future Labour leadership contest—is aiming to secure a seat in Westminster by standing in the Makerfield by-election later this month. This election will create the unusual situation of both Sir Keir Starmer and Wes Streeting campaigning in support of Burnham despite their political rivalry.
When questioned about Sir Keir’s prospects, Lord Hermer stated, “Yes, I think he does.” He elaborated on how Starmer has consistently surpassed expectations over the years, whether in his role as Director of Public Prosecutions, where he confronted dangerous criminal organizations, or as Labour leader. “When he came in as Labour leader, people said ‘you’re never gonna turn this party around so it’s electable within three election cycles’, but yet we had the victory in 2024, so no-one has ever got rich betting against Keir Starmer.”
Regarding Burnham’s ambitions, Lord Hermer declined to speculate but expressed strong support: “I really desperately want Andy to win and for Labour to win that election. He is a brilliant candidate, a talented politician, the PLP [Parliamentary Labour Party] will benefit from him being in it.” He described Sir Keir as having a clear mandate from the general election and “an absolute determination to better this country.” Despite the political turmoil, Lord Hermer denied that Starmer was angry, calling him “the most resilient person he had ever met,” emphasizing that Starmer believes in fairness and equal opportunity regardless of one’s background
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