Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s diplomatic efforts at the G20 summit are being hampered by the need to continuously deflect domestic political chaos, forcing him into “distraction diplomacy” on the world stage. Starmer’s public praise for Mayor Andy Burnham was a calculated move to quiet leadership talk before meeting global peers.
The source of the instability is Mayor Andy Burnham, whose refusal to issue a definitive denial on a future leadership challenge has kept the focus firmly on internal Labour rifts. This has created a headache for Starmer, whose team is attempting to project an image of a stable, focused government to international investors and partners.
En route to Johannesburg, Starmer emphasized his “very close” partnership with Burnham, highlighting their co-operation during the sensitive response to the Manchester synagogue attack. By describing Burnham’s leadership during that crisis as “really impressive,” Starmer sought to pivot the narrative from rivalry to effective co-governance.
Yet, Starmer reserved his harshest criticism for those undermining his international mission. He condemned internal party figures for fueling rumors, specifically targeting the claims that Health Secretary Wes Streeting was plotting a coup. The Prime Minister insisted these distractions are directly undermining the government’s ability to tackle the urgent cost-of-living crisis.
Back home, Burnham continues to build his non-Westminster profile, focused on his £1 billion Manchester growth strategy which aims to deliver 30 major projects across the region. His commitment to local delivery allows the leadership speculation to thrive in his absence from Westminster, even as Starmer tries to focus on the global stage.
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