Has Keir Starmer performed his final U-turn?

**Jon Sopel** (0:02)
This is a Global Production.

**Emily Maitlis** (0:05)
Andy Burnham's first day in the Commons today, really, since becoming Prime Minister. He was setting the stage for, here's my cabinet, 9.30, here's my announcement, 3.30. That's what we thought would be the political focus of the day. And Keir Starmer is now kind of walking in the opposite direction, waving as he goes.

**Jon Sopel** (0:23)
It was astonishing when Keir Starmer was, in effect, ousted as prime minister. He probably feels bitter and resentful and furious at the coup that was led by people he thought he could trust in politics.

**Emily Maitlis** (0:38)
It was the moment when I saw that video of Burnham landing in Ukraine and managing to borrow the soldier's guitar and start strumming along at the Smith song, where the Starmer just thought, oh, fuck it. He could even play the Smith song.

**Jon Sopel** (0:54)
Andy Burnham has handled politics with an agility, an adroitness, a personability. From what you've seen so far, there is no way that Keir Starmer, I don't think, could have done what Andy Burnham has done these past two months.
Of course, we're right to say, caveatic with difficulties ahead, but it's been pretty bloody good so far.

**Emily Maitlis** (1:20)
And you're going to stay as an MP?

**Jon Sopel** (1:21)
I'm going to stay as an MP. Until the next election? Yes.

**Emily Maitlis** (1:24)
Less than two months ago, Keir Starmer told our colleague Henry Zefman that he was definitely going to stay as an MP.
Today, all that changed. You might say his final act as an MP is a U-turn.

**Jon Sopel** (1:38)
But it gives Andy Burnham a very tricky little by-election to fight in Hoban and St. Pancras, where the Greens will fancy their chances.
Is this Keir Starmer's parting present to the new Prime Minister? Welcome to The News Agents.

**Emily Maitlis** (2:00)
The News Agents.

**Jon Sopel** (2:02)
It's Jon.

**Emily Maitlis** (2:02)
It's Maitlis.

**Jon Sopel** (2:04)
She's back.

**Emily Maitlis** (2:05)
Well, well, well. I have to say, I did not expect to be back just as Keir Starmer announced he was off.

**Jon Sopel** (2:12)
We were sitting having a chat this morning thinking what are we going to do today? Because Andy Burnham doesn't speak in the Commons until half past three. That's too late for us when we're recording at lunchtime. What are we going to do?
Then Keir Starmer manages to upstage Andy Burnham and grabs the headlines, which is probably the first time that Starmer has ever managed that when it's come to his dealings with Andy Burnham. But the news breaking this morning is that Keir Starmer is going to stand down from his seat in North London with more or less immediate effect, which means a by-election, which may be Zack Polanski will fancy it, seeing as the Greens did pretty well there in local council elections.

**Emily Maitlis** (2:54)
Yeah, we've been having a little discussion about whether this is a cheeky little move or a helpful getting out of the way move. I think we're veering towards the former, aren't we? I mean, there is something of the kind of, tell me why I don't like Mondays. Like, everyone is back to school, everyone is coming in. Even Farage is back in the Commons today where he regains the mantle of MP after winning that fever dream, Placton by-election. Andy Burnham's first day in the Commons today, really, since becoming Prime Minister, still hasn't done PMQs, that's tomorrow.
He was setting the stage for, here's my cabinet, 9.30, here's my announcement, 3.30. That's what we thought would be the political focus of the day, everyone coming back. Keir Starmer is now walking in the opposite direction, waving as he goes. Essentially, I'm out of here, it's your problem, deal with it. As you say, now essentially seizing, at least for now, the headline high ground. We haven't really, I've been listening to you guys, I don't think you've mentioned Starmer.
Really? For about two months?

**Jon Sopel** (4:12)
Well, it was astonishing when Keir Starmer was, in effect, ousted as Prime Minister. The waters covered him over so quickly. It was like the sandcastle that was on the beach and it was one wave and it was gone.
That's what it felt like. There is a part of me that thinks, can you blame Starmer? What a miserable time it would be on the back benches. Watching Andy Burnham doing all his stuff. If he says anything that's in any way critical, it will kind of a microscope will be put on him, but he probably feels bitter and resentful and furious at the coup that was led by people he thought he could trust in politics. It was brutal and it was efficient.