Jun 22, 2026 · 56 min · 14 segments
Keir Starmer’s resignation has cleared the way for Andy Burnham to become Britain’s seventh Prime Minister in just 10 years. In this special episode of Northern Spin, co-hosts Chris Maguire and Frank…
Chris MaguireHost
Frank McKennaHost
There's a lot to digest, but the Northern Spin is the political podcast that gives a voice to the North, so we want to provide our unique Northern insight on national politics.
This is the moment when Starmer stood at the lectern outside 10 Downing Street this morning and fell on his sword.
The
my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election.
I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question.
And I accept that answer with good grace.
Every decision I've taken has been about putting the country I love first.
I have spoken to His Majesty the King this morning to inform him of my decision.
Now, from a human level, Frank, it was hard not to be moved by the bit where he referred to his wife and his children.
I think history may be kinder to him than the current political commentary in terms of the way he's governed the country.
And he did take over an organisation that was battered, bruised and looked as though it was going to be in opposition for a considerable period of time.
He did change the way in which the party was viewed, made it credible again, got rid of an awful lot of the toxicity around Jeremy Corbyn and the Corbynistas.
He was aided and abetted, I'd suggest, by an absolutely dreadful Conservative government, which culminated in Liz Truss's 44 days of whatever it was in office.
And then, of course, Rishi Sunak was trying to do his best to turn that tank around, but it was never going to happen.
So I think the victory is somewhat to do with the Tories failure but nevertheless he does need to be given credit for taking what as I say was a battered and bruised Labour Party brand and turning that around unfortunately I think the step from leader of the opposition to Prime Minister was a step too far out of his depth no political instinct and I think in the end that is why he's paid the ultimate price
There's a lot to digest, but the Northern Spin is the political podcast that gives a voice to the North, so we want to provide our unique Northern insight on national politics.
This is the moment when Starmer stood at the lectern outside 10 Downing Street this morning and fell on his sword.
The
my party is asking now is whether I am best placed to lead us into the next general election.
I have heard the answer of my parliamentary party to that question.
And I accept that answer with good grace.
Every decision I've taken has been about putting the country I love first.
I have spoken to His Majesty the King this morning to inform him of my decision.
Now, from a human level, Frank, it was hard not to be moved by the bit where he referred to his wife and his children.
I think history may be kinder to him than the current political commentary in terms of the way he's governed the country.
And he did take over an organisation that was battered, bruised and looked as though it was going to be in opposition for a considerable period of time.
He did change the way in which the party was viewed, made it credible again, got rid of an awful lot of the toxicity around Jeremy Corbyn and the Corbynistas.
He was aided and abetted, I'd suggest, by an absolutely dreadful Conservative government, which culminated in Liz Truss's 44 days of whatever it was in office.
And then, of course, Rishi Sunak was trying to do his best to turn that tank around, but it was never going to happen.
So I think the victory is somewhat to do with the Tories failure but nevertheless he does need to be given credit for taking what as I say was a battered and bruised Labour Party brand and turning that around unfortunately I think the step from leader of the opposition to Prime Minister was a step too far out of his depth no political instinct and I think in the end that is why he's paid the ultimate price
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