Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter

Image source, Reuters

We're pausing our live coverage shortly, but before we go here's a summary of what happened on Monday:

• Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he will not set out a timetable to stand down, should Andy Burnham win the Makerfield by-election
• Instead, Starmer says he will be "100% behind" whoever stands for Labour in Makerfield, and has urged party members to "put to one side" their views on Labour's direction
• Burnham, who is yet to be formally announced as Labour's candidate for the seat, has nonetheless promised "a vote for me will be a vote to change Labour" as he hopes to deliver "ambitious" plans in Makerfield
• Burnham also clarified on Monday that he will not campaign to rejoin the EU, but accepts that leaving the bloc has been "damaging"
• The topic is likely to prove a sticky point for Burnham, our political correspondent writes, as approximately 66% of people voted leave in Makerfield
• The debate was reignited after former health secretary and potential leadership rival Wes Streeting described Brexit as a "catastrophic mistake"
• Starmer is refusing to be drawn into the debate, saying he's "not [going to] get lost in a debate that may take place years down the line" - though he stresses the UK is going to take another "really important leap forward" at this year's EU summit

With that, we're closing our live coverage for now, but you can find more in our news story.

Brexit is an electoral tightrope for Labour leadership contenderspublished at 16:18 BST

16:18 BST

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent

Over the next few weeks expect a lot of scrutiny over where Andy Burnham stands on key issues.

The first one that’s proving tricky for him is Europe.

Over the weekend, he was asked by ITV News about the prospect of rejoining the European Union. He told them there “is a case for that” - but that he wasn’t advocating it in the upcoming Makerfield by-election.

In the past, he's gone further. Last year, he told the Guardian: "I’m going to be honest. I’m going to say I want to rejoin. I hope, in my lifetime, I see this country rejoining the European Union."

Today, Burnham said “the last thing we should do is rerun those arguments”.

Burnham hasn’t changed his view that Brexit was damaging – but does seem to have moved on whether it could be reversed.

One reason could be the makeup of the Makerfield constituency – where approx 66% of people voted Leave in the referendum.

It’s tightrope Labour leadership hopefuls will have to tread; appealing to the many Labour members who think Brexit was a bad idea, without alienating historically Labour constituencies that backed Leave.

What impact has Brexit had on the UK economy?published at 15:59 BST

15:59 BST

By Ben Chu, policy and analysis correspondent

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who is seen as a potential candidate to replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader and prime minister, has said he is “not proposing that the UK considers rejoining” the European Union, and warned against re-running the arguments of the Brexit years.

His comments came after former Health Secretary Wes Streeting - who says he will stand in any future Labour leadership contest - said on Saturday that Brexit “was a catastrophic mistake… it’s left us less wealthy”.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the official forecaster, estimated a decade ago that - based on a range of studies - Brexit would hold back the UK economy by around 4% over 15 years relative to where it would otherwise have grown to.

That suggests a gap of around £120bn a year in today’s money.

In its most recent analysis of the data on trade and investment in 2024 the OBR judged, external that these assumptions were “broadly on track” and “consistent” with academic economic studies on the impact of Brexit.

Though there are some economists who don’t accept, external the OBR’s analysis - and argue there will be long-term benefits to the UK economy from diverging from the EU’s approach to regulating technologies such as AI.

It’s impossible to be confident when it comes to quantifying the precise economic impact of Brexit.

The UK economy has been hit by a range of economic shocks in recent years including the Covid pandemic, the 2022 energy crisis and now the US-Israel war with Iran - so disentangling the impact of Brexit from those is hard.

However, the indications so far - according to most economists - seem consistent with predictions of economic harm, rather than benefit.

Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting have both made comments on Brexit and the EU in recent days.

Here's a rundown of what they've said:

Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting - who resigned from cabinet last week and announced his intention to run in a potential leadership contest against Starmer - has described leaving the European Union as "a catastrophic mistake".

He told a conference on Saturday that it left the country "less wealthy, less powerful and less in control than at any point before the Industrial Revolution" and said "we can no longer afford to be silent about it".

Streeting called for a "a new special relationship with the EU" and for the UK to be "one day" back in the union.

Image source, Reuters

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said on Monday he is not proposing the UK re-join the EU.

He told a conference that he thinks leaving the bloc has "been damaging" but that "the last thing we should do right now is rerun those arguments," which will leave us in a "permanent rut".

He said that he respects "the decision made at the referendum" and that it would "undermine everything I've said about strengthening democracy if we don't respect that vote".

At last year's Labour Party Conference, Burnham had said: "I hope in my lifetime I see this country rejoin the European Union."

Image source, Reuters

Image source, PA Media

More now from Keir Starmer, who has been asked about Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham's comments on the EU.

Starmer says Labour inherited a "botched" Brexit deal negotiated by Boris Johnson, but that he has "completely reset" relations with the EU over the past two years.

He says the UK is going to take another "really important leap forward" at this year's EU summit, benefiting businesses and the country.

When it comes to the debate around the merits of rejoining the EU, Starmer says he's "not [going to] get lost in a debate that may take place years down the line".

• As a reminder, Streeting said over the weekend that he wanted to rejoin the EU. Andy Burnham - who hopes to run for MP in the Makerfield by-election - said rerunning Brexit arguments was "the last thing we should do right now". Burnham has previously said he would like the UK to rejoin the EU in his lifetime.

Image source, PA Media

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he will not set out a timetable to step down if Andy Burnham wins the Makerfield by-election.

"No I'm not going to do that," he says, in response to a question on a visit to local businesses in north London.

And Starmer repeats his earlier statement that he'll be "100% behind" whoever the Labour candidate is for the by-election.

"Whatever views people may have on the direction of the party, that needs to be put to one side," he says.

He adds: "It's an important by-election, let's come together and do what we do as a party best, which is to unite as we campaign."

Image source, PA Media

Although Andy Burnham declared "a vote for me will be a vote to change Labour" during his speech, he's not yet the party's formal candidate for the Makerfield by-election.

Applications for the Labour candidacy closed at noon today, and we're yet to hear whether other names have been put forward.

Labour's governing body the National Executive Committee (NEC) has cleared Burnham to run, after blocking his previous attempt to stand for the Gorton and Denton by-election in January.

The by-election in Makerfield is expected to take place in a month, on 18 June, the BBC understands.

Burnham says he is "clear" about what he is offering.

"If I get to stand, a vote for me will be a vote to change Labour," he says. It will be a vote to "make life more affordable again", "power up places" and "reindustrialise", he adds.

Burnham says he knows Labour's offering in the past "has not been good enough".

Before he wraps up his remarks, Burnham says that a loss of faith from voters is "our fault and nobody else's," adding that he wants the chance to fix that.

Moving on to Brexit, Burnham says he thinks leaving the bloc has "been damaging" but that he is not proposing that the UK rejoins the EU.

"The last thing we should do right now is rerun those arguments," which will leave us in a "permanent rut", he says, adding that he respects "the decision made at the referendum".

The comments contrast with Wes Streeting, who has said he wants the UK to rejoin the EU and said Brexit was "catastrophic".

Streeting would be a likely opponent for Burnham in any future leadership contest.

The Greater Manchester mayor has previously said he would like the UK to rejoin the EU in his lifetime.

Burnham has apologised to the residents of Makerfield for the "circus that is about to arrive in town". But he says he hopes they'll feel it's a good thing that places "long forgotten by national politics are finally at the centre of the national debate".

"My plan for Makerfield will be ambitious," he says, adding that it will involve action to make basics "like rent, bills and fares" more affordable.

Burnham says devolved authorities have proved they can do more for local areas than Whitehall, and that more can be done over the next decade if regions are given more powers and resources.

This is what he wants to do if he returns to Parliament, he tells the conference. He says the country can't go on with a "bloated national state" and a "malnourished local one".

For context, Burnham is a long-standing advocate for devolution to the English regions.

"People are losing faith in politics", says Burnham, adding that the local election results earlier this month - which resulted in massive losses for Labour - show that.

Burnham says his "core argument" is that Britain has been on the "wrong path" for the last 40 years and this has "damaged communities across the north".

He points to the "de-industrialisation of the 1980s", compounded by "privatisation in the 90s and austerity in the 2010s".

Burnham tells the conference that councillors have been "swept away" because of a failure of national government to "protect local government and give them the ability to make basic improvements in their communities".

"We just need a completely different relationship between national and local," he says.

Image source, PA Media

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham says Makerfield is "no ordinary by-election".

He says he is getting plenty of advice about what he should do, including, "for god's sake get some new running shorts".

He says he believes the by-election is "very necessary" adding that the time has come for a "bigger debate about how politics needs to change if it is to work properly for the north of England".

Image source, BBC/Ruth Green

Andy Burnham is now speaking at the Great North Summit in Leeds.

It is the first time we've heard from him directly today.

We will bring you the key lines as we get them and you can watch live at the top of the page.

Image source, PA Media

Here's a summary of what we've heard so far on Monday, as questions continue over whether Keir Starmer will be challenged for the Labour leadership:

• Keir Starmer insists he is "focused on the job that I was asked to do" as prime minister, and admits "we need a bit more hope" as he speaks at Labour headquarters this morning
• After Makerfield MP Josh Simons formally resigned this morning, Starmer says whoever the candidate vying to replace Simons is, "I am going to support them one hundred per cent" and urges "everyone in our movement to support them"

• Meanwhile Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy says the Labour leader "fights on" and urges the party to "get back on the pitch" to deliver for the public - we've got a full roundup of his key comments, including his commitment to the "clear red lines" on the EU set out in Labour's manifesto
• The leadership speculation has reopened the Brexit debate, with Wes Streeting calling Britain's exit from the EU a "catastrophic mistake"
• Another Labour MP, though, says now is not the time to return to the arguments of 2016, calling the debate "staggering" and "out of touch"

Image source, Reuters

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has warned "putting our stability at risk when signs of progress are emerging would leave families and businesses worse off".

Her comments come after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) upgraded its forecast for the UK's economic growth this year, but warned "domestic uncertainty" could undermine investment.

She says the positive economic news amounts to the IMF "backing our fiscal strategy [and] is yet more proof that this government has the right economic plan".

Reeves made similar comments last week after new GDP data was published, linking the UK's economic fortunes directly to Labour's political battles.

Andy Burnham is due to appear at the Great North Summit in Leeds shortly, where he is listed as a keynote speaker.

It remains to be seen whether he will attend, or if he will address the mounting leadership speculation surrounding him and his party.

If the Greater Manchester mayor does speak it will be the first time we've heard from him directly today.

Prime minister shows no indication of stepping down in speech to Labour staffpublished at 12:26 BST

12:26 BST

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent

We have not heard from Keir Starmer for a few days now and he spent the weekend at Chequers at the end of a bruising week which has put his premiership in greater peril than ever before.

This morning, the prime minister visited Labour headquarters to thank party officials for their work in the local and national elections, and one key passage gives us a clue to what he will say when we next see him on camera.

He told the staff: “I am focused on the job that I was asked to do, which is to serve my country and to carry out my duties as Prime Minister of this country.

"Delivering for the very many people who voted us into office, who are saying, ‘just get on with it, get on with the job, get on with the change that I need to see in my life’. And that is what I am going to be doing."

In other words, he is not setting a timetable for his departure. All the signs from last week are that the prime minister intends to fight as hard as possible to stay in office, and that is continuing into this week for now.

Image source, Getty Images

Away from the politics, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has upgraded its forecast for the UK's growth this year, but warned the Iran war and "domestic uncertainty" could hit the economy.

The growth estimate has been upgraded to 1% from 0.8% for 2026 by the influential body, which said last month that the UK would be hit hardest by the Iran war among the world's advanced economies.

In its latest forecast, it said the UK "remained resilient" but added a prolonged conflict in the Middle East risked hitting growth and resulting in "higher energy and food prices".

"Domestic uncertainty could also add to the already volatile global environment, holding back consumption and investment decisions," it added.

You can read more on the outlook for the British economy here.

Image source, Getty Images

• 7 May - Labour suffer massive losses in elections in Wales, Scotland and some parts of England, prompting public questioning of the prime minister's approach within Labour
• 9 May - Backbench MP Catherine West told cabinet ministers that she would challenge Keir Starmer if a senior figure in the party did not

• 12 May - Four government ministers quit, including Jess Phillips
• 14 May - Wes Streeting became the first - and, so far, only - cabinet minister to resign, saying he had "lost confidence" in Starmer's leadership. Later that day, Makerfield MP Josh Simons said he was leaving Parliament, triggering a by-election
• 15 May - Labour's ruling body confirmed Andy Burnham would be allowed to stand if selected by the local party as their candidate

• 16 May - Burnham told BBC he would look to "save" the Labour Party, which he said "not been good enough" and "requires a lot of change"
• 18 May - Starmer says he will support any Labour candidate in Makerfield, though it remains to be seen whether potential challenger Burnham will definitely be on the ballot

So far, no Labour leadership contest has been triggered - to do so would require one challenger with the backing of at least 81 Labour MPs.

More now on Starmer's address to Labour staff, where the prime minister addressed "really tough" losses suffered by the party in the local elections earlier this month.

He says Labour has got the economy into a "good position" despite inheriting a "real basket case" from the Conservatives, calling last week's growth figures the "best in the G7".

He also highlights investment in the NHS and efforts to reduce child poverty.

But he says the government needs to act with greater "urgency" because people "don’t feel that their lives have changed quickly enough".

On his own position, he says: "I am focused on the job that I was asked to do, which is to serve my country and to carry out my duties as prime minister."