Bassetlaw MP Jo White has thrown her weight behind Andy Burnham as the next Prime Minister, while acknowledging Keir Starmer’s commitment to service and ‘putting country before self’ during his term in office.

The Labour leader stood down today, in response to mounting pressure after Andy Burnham’s success in Makerfield against Reform UK.

Mr Starmer said he would remain in post until parliament returns in September, but if there is no contest, Andy Burnham could take his place within a month.

Burnham, who was sworn in as an MP today, has confirmed he will run for the Labour leadership

Bassetlaw MP Jo White believes Andy Burnham understands areas such as Bassetlaw, and the people who live there.

placeholder image — Bassetlaw MP Jo White believes Andy Burnham understands areas such as Bassetlaw, and the people who live there.

In a statement, following the reluctant resignation of a clearly emotional Keir Starmer. Ms White said we need a Prime Minister who ‘understands areas like ours’, and who ‘speaks our language’

Her tribute to Keir Starmer said “he led Labour to a historic general election victory following 14 years in opposition, when we had lost credibility following Corbyn, antisemitism and mismanaging Labour’s response to the Brexit Referendum.

“He deserves our respect for his commitment to service, putting our country before self, and ensuring that we have had a strong voice on the international stage when the world has bounced from crisis to crisis.”

She continues: “But politics is about listening.

“The message from the public has become impossible to ignore. In Bassetlaw and across many parts of the country, the public sent us a clear message at the ballot box.

“Many people felt we were not listening to them and taking decisions that did not reflect their priorities or interests.

“On the doorstep, people raised the same concerns again and again: the cost of living, Winter Fuel Allowance, immigration, public services, and the feeling that decisions are made in Whitehall without enough understanding of ordinary lives.

“I spoke up because I believe your voices must be heard. When the Government changed course on Winter Fuel, I hoped it showed that Labour was beginning to listen. But the problem runs much deeper.

“No government will be popular all the time. Governing is hard. Difficult decisions must be made.

“Keir Starmer has now done the right thing by allowing a change of leadership. What matters next cannot be a long, inward-looking argument. The country does not need more political drama. It needs a government that gets on with the job.

“Labour must now reconnect with the people it was created to serve. That means speaking plainly, acting quickly, and putting working people and their families first. It means showing that we understand the pressure people are under. It means restoring trust through delivery.

“People want hope. They want change they can feel in their own lives. They want a government that is rooted in their communities, not distant from them. That is what I will keep fighting for.

“This is a painful moment, but it can also be a turning point.

“We must focus on the cost of living, safer borders, stronger public services, and decent jobs. We must put the concerns of ordinary people at the heart of government again.

“We need a Prime Minister who understands areas like ours and puts the change that towns and communities that have been left behind at the top of his list of priorities.

“That is why I am backing Andy Burnham.

“He has spent years listening to towns and communities that too often feel ignored. This where he grew up and where he developed his politics.

“He speaks our language, and he knows that being Prime Minister must be about better lives.

“I believe Andy has the experience and the determination to rise to those challenges and rebuild the bond between Labour and the people we were established to serve.”