BBC Question Time fallout live: Keir Starmer 'will fight' any leadership challenge after Burnham confirms bid

BBC Question Time fallout live: Keir Starmer 'will fight' any leadership challenge after Burnham confirms bid Robert Kenyon, Reform UK's candidate in the Makerfield by-election, was branded a 'sexist plumber' and berated for not apologising to Carol Vorderman Labour's Andy Burnham has confirmed for the first time that he would challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer if he becomes an MP and a leadership race is triggered. During a special Makerfield by-election episode of BBC Question Time last night, the Greater Manchester Mayor joked that "Wes Streeting seems to have launched a leadership contest" - and said that he had asked his aides to have a "proper look at this". Reacting to his comments, Deputy PM David Lammy said this morning that Burnham would be a "great asset in Westminster" but that Keir Starmer has a five-year mandate to serve in Number 10, which it is "important" for him to see through. Reform's Makerfield candidate was meanwhile branded a "sexist plumber" and blasted for again refusing to apologise to Carol Vorderman over a derogatory online remark. In a dramatic exchange Mr Kenyon was challenged about online comments he has made about women, with one audience member telling him: "I would rather have a career politician than a sexist plumber." Elsewhere Mr Kenyon failed to defend Nigel Farage over his £5million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, which is being investigated by Parliament's standards commissioner. Key Events David Lammy has said Elon Musk should “step back” from tweeting about the case of Henry Nowak after his parents said they “do not want his death to be used to create further division“. It comes after Keir Starmer accused the billionaire X owner of seeking to whip up division. The Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary told Sky News: “I think there’s an IPO [share offering] this week in the States on Starlink. Elon Musk should get on with that. I mean, tweeting over 100 times about this tragic, horrific case. “Anyone who’s seen the video, it’s so harrowing and appalling. I’ve got two teenage sons. “My heart goes out to the Nowak family. Let us not exploit their situation. They have asked for calm, they have asked of course for us to look closely at the issues around knife crime. “Let us respect them. Elon Musk really, I think, he should stay out of this complex but painful situation for that family.” David Lammy has said that Keir Starmer would fight in any leadership contest after Burnham's announcement yesterday evening. The Deputy Prime Minister told LBC: “There is no contest at the moment, and my view is it would be a huge distraction at this time. “The Prime Minister, by the way, has been absolutely clear: if there is a contest, he’ll be in it.” Asked if he would serve in a potential Andy Burnham premiership, he said: “I’m not, I’m not even going to get into that kind of speculation. “What I do know is that if there were to be a change of leader, of course, you serve at the will of the person who is leading the party. That’s always the case, certainly if you’re in their Cabinet. “I’ve supported every leader of the Labour Party. They’ve had my full loyalty. Keir Starmer has got my loyalty, full loyalty, until the day he no longer wishes to serve.” Keir Starmer has no intention of walking away, Number 10 has said this morning after Andy Burnham confirmed his plans for a leadership bid.A spokesperson said: “With Keir Starmer’s leadership, this Labour government is supporting people with the cost of living, cutting NHS waiting lists, restoring control of our borders and lifting half a million children out of poverty.“The country expects us to focus on governing and to deliver change for hardworking people, not get distracted by Westminster debates.“The Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader and it has not been triggered. The Prime Minister will not walk away from the mandate he was given just two years ago to build a stronger, fairer Britain.” Mirror Politics correspondent Dave Burke writes: In a bit of good news for Andy Burnham, polling released last night gave him a clear lead over Reform.Survation put him on 49% with a healthy lead over Robert Kenyon on 39%. A big caveat though is that it was based on a sample size of 518 in the constituency, so there'll be a margin for error.Mr Burnham knows that every vote counts, and Nigel Farage's party could well scupper his plans.In the local elections last month, Reform picked up 50.4% of votes for council wards in the constituency.That was more than double Labour's 22.7%, while the Greens got 10.9%. And there isn't much wriggle room for him - Labour won with a majority of 5,399 in Makerfield at the general election, but Reform still secured more than 12,000 votes. Here is what Survation found: - Andy Burnham - Labour 49% - Robert Kenyon - Reform UK 39% - Rebecca Shepherd - Restore Britain 8% - Sarah Wakefield - Green Party 2% - Jake Austin - Liberal Democrat 1% - Michael Winstanley - Conservative 1% - Another party <1% Andy Burnham confirmed for the first time that he will challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership if he wins the Makerfield by-election. The Greater Manchester Mayor has previously promised a vote for him in Makerfield would be a vote to “change Labour” - but has not explicitly said he would launch a bid until now. Appearing on the BBC’s Question Time by-election special, he said: “I think Wes Streeting seems to have launched a leadership contest, so if that is running, I would seek to join it. “But I’d have to persuade members of the Parliamentary Labour Party to do the same. “So that’s the only question… I’ve said to my team, let’s have a proper look at this and let’s develop a policy.” David Lammy also said that Keir Starmer has a five-year mandate to serve as PM - and that it’s “important” he is allowed to see that through.Asked if he thinks there should be a leadership contest to replace the PM, Mr Lammy said: “I've been really clear. Keir Starmer got a mandate from the people.. two years ago, for five years. It's important that he sees out that mandate and delivers for the British people. And frankly, with the cost of living crisis, with the problems in the Strait of Hormuz, it's important that we continue to do everything we can to support people.” David Lammy has said Andy Burnham would be a “great asset” in Westminster - but pointed out there is "not a contest" after the Greater Manchester Mayor said he would be prepared to stand in last night's Question Time.The Deputy PM was challenged after Mr Burnham - the Greater Manchester mayor - told BBC’s Question Time he would stand against Keir Starmer if he is elected as an MP.Asked if he is happy Mr Burnham would challenge the PM, Mr Lammy said he is supporting him in his fight to win the Makerfield by-election. He told Sky News: “I was up there supporting Andy Burnham. He's running a course against Reform - and a candidate who admits to being sexist and saying some vile things about women. in the past.“There isn't currently a contest in the Labour Party. You have to have 81 names. Wes Streeting, I don't think has put forward those 81. I'm pretty sure he hasn't put forward those 81 names and therefore there isn't a contest.“What there is, is a by-election. I'll be up there again supporting Andy Burnham. He would be a great asset in Westminster.” Labour candidate Andy Burham hit out at Nigel Farage over his comments about Henry Nowak's murder. Responding to Farage's calls for "pure cold rage" following the release of police bodycam footage, the Greater Manchester Mayor said: "If you give a preordained statement at 8 in the morning, believe me, you are well aware of what you say and what might happen later in that day. "Those consequences were seen on the streets of Southampton, and the ringleaders of that violence used exactly the same words as the leader of the Reform Party when they were orchestrating that violence." He continued: "And this is a big question that comes to the heart of this by-election. Honestly, do we want to carry on in Britain down this path towards a politics like the United States of America, where if people vote different ways, they won't talk to each other and they won't have any relationship with each other?" Mr Kenyon also failed to defend Nigel Farage over his £5million gift from a crypto-billionaire. Responding to a member of the audience who described him as “sexist” on last night's Question Time, Reform UK's by-election candidate Robert Kenyon said: “I won’t accept that label, I mean a lot of the things have been said 15 years ago. “I hold my hands up, I’ve made mistakes… “I was brought up by a single parent and my grandma, who was a widow, and an older sister. So I was brought up by women. “I’ve got nothing but respect for women, you know, so I think something that’s said, you know, 15 years ago, dragged up from an old rugby forum, you know, it’s completely taken out of context. “And like I say, I’ve made mistakes, I’ve said things years ago that I wouldn’t say now and I definitely don’t believe that, on that point.” Mr Kenyon added: “I’ve got nothing but respect for women.” Reform UK's "sexist plumber" has been savaged over his refusal to apologise for derogatory remarks about women - including a vile slur about Carol Vorderman. In a fiery exchange on BBC Question Time, an audience member told candidate Robert Kenyon: "I'd rather have a career politician than a plumber who's a sexist." In the special show, two weeks ahead of the Makerfield by-election, Labour'sAndy Burnham confirmed for the first time that he would join a leadership race against Keir Starmer if he got into Parliament and one was triggered. And in a significant moment Mr Kenyon failed to defend Mr Farage's £5million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne shortly before becoming an MP - which he didn't declare. The panel of five candidates was also quizzed about allegations of 'two-tier policing' and Mr Farage's call for "pure cold rage" following Henry Nowak's murder. Mr Burnham said the consequences of the Reform leader's words were seen on the streets of Southampton, when 11 police officers were injured. Despite being told Ms Vorderman was watching, Mr Kenyon refused to say sorry. Horrified Green Party candidate Sarah Wakeman told the audience: "Every woman in this room and at home has been subject to shaming, whether in person or online. That's disgusting. "I think it's just proving my point. Can you believe this? We have all been subjected to it, and the fact that a man like you cannot sit and do a simple apology, I think is disgraceful. But on top of that, Reform's policies on women are shocking." Click here for the key points from the crunch BBC Question Time debate