UK Deputy Prime Minister Reiterates That PM Starmer ‘Fights On’ As Labour Party Must Unite Together To Resolve Leadership Crisis.

London; May 2026: United Kingdom’s Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy while addressing recent infighting among Labour MPs, saying the last 10 days have been ‘an extraordinary own goal’ and they now need to continue ‘delivering for the British people’. Lammy said he was ‘sad’ to see Wes Streeting leave government last week, but would not be drawn on the health secretary’s comments about ‘one day’ rejoining the EU. He says the UK has been made poorer as a result of Brexit and is now reconnecting with Europe, but reiterated Labour’s manifesto pledge to not rejoin the bloc.

David Lammy reiterated that PM Keir Starmer will ‘fight on’, and would stand if any leadership contest is triggered, adding the prime minister has his full support. The minister said he would of course campaign for Andy Burnham in the Makerfield by-election and ‘all of us in cabinet will be pushing for a Labour win’.

Makerfield in north-west England finds itself at the centre of the battle to lead the Labour Party and country, with Andy Burnham seeking to stand in the by-election there, and eventually challenge for No 10.

The constituency of around 100,000 people is made up of suburbs in the south of Wigan and the town of Ashton-in-Makerfield. Labour has traditionally dominated in Makerfield and won it again in 2024 with 45.2% of the vote. But Reform UK ran the party fairly close in that election, coming second on 31.8%, about 5,400 votes short of a win.

Earlier this month, Nigel Farage’s party took around 50% of the vote share in the region during local election, suggesting it could make the upcoming by-election in Makerfield tight. In the 2016 referendum, 65% of people in Makerfield voted for Brexit, so Reform will hope to make the upcoming by-election close regardless of whether or not Burnham is Labour’s candidate.

Today (18th May 2026) David Lammy has said that the Brexit delivered by Boris Johnson and his cronies have left the UK poorer as a result, and said the government is making step-by-step improvement to reconnect with Europe, but will stick to its principles – not to return to the single market, customs union or freedom of movement.

Away from leadership speculation and debate over Brexit, the government is reportedly considering reversing a planned change to fuel duty. Chancellor Rachel Reeves may scrap a 05 penny increase that was set to come into force from September 2026. A reduced tax rate for petrol and diesel was first introduced by the Conservative government after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine pushed prices up in 2022.

Under Labour’s Budget, that reduction was to be phased out from September, with fuel duty initially increasing by 01 penny per litre, followed by a further 02 penny in December 2026, and another 02 penny in March 2027. However, with concerns mounting over fuel prices due to the Iran war, the announcement plans of Reeves next Thursday (21st May 2026) have been shelved.

As per latest developments, there is no Labour leadership contest but, Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham – if elected to Parliament will run against the Prime Minister in the event there is one.

• 92 Labour MPs publicly urging the PM to resign immediately or draw up an exit timetable;

• 04 Junior Ministers, namely Jess Phillips, Zubir Ahmed, Alex Davies-Jones and Miatta Fahnbulleh, have resigned from the government;

• Cabinet Minister Streeting has also quit, announcing his intention to eventually run for leader;

• 06 ministerial aides have quitted on 11th May and have since been replaced; the 07th, Rosie Wrighting with the Department of Health and Social Care, resigned on 14th May;

• More than 150 MPs have come out in support of the PM or said it is not the right time for a leadership contest.

Team Maverick.