Impending "coronation" of Andy Burnham!

Keir Starmer announced on June 22 that he is resigning as Labour Party leader, and hence as Prime Minister. It was reported in the media to try and divert the people's condemnation that this was because of "electoral losses, internal party pressure, and political controversies" and so on. But the cause goes deeper than this. Starmer's premiership and his government over the last two years has been a period of restructuring the state to further serve the hold of narrow private supranational interests over the direction of society and keep the people disempowered, with no role in decision-making, and disillusioned by their alienation from the political process and institutions. It is not simply that Starmer had policies of furthering the attacks on the rights of all in society, especially the criminalisation of protest of those who opposed Britain's support for Israel's genocide of the Palestinians as well as his further escalation of war in Europe with the US, NATO and other European powers and further militarisation of the British economy at the expense of wrecking the social programmes and welfare of the people. The state of the oligarchs, monopolies and warmongers has been asserting its authority through all the factional struggles which represent competing private interests. This is what must be grasped about the impending "coronation" of Andy Burnham. He will step into the shoes that the cartel party system has fashioned for him.

Section of the blockade of Lakenheath, April 7 - Photo: Lakenheath Alliance for Peace

Even after resigning last week, the Prime Minister hosted the NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on June 29 at Downing Street [1]. They discussed "the publication of the Defence Investment Plan" that Starmer was to release the next day that plans further militarisation of the economy with a £15 billion investment to "enhance the UK's defence capabilities", especially with drones, autonomous war ships and war planes. They discussed Britain's increase "in annual defence spending from £54 billion to £80 billion by 2029, positioning the UK to meet NATO's defence spending commitment of 3.5% of GDP by 2035". They discussed their increasing military involvement in the war in Ukraine against Russia with "strong international support for Ukraine and looked ahead to the outcomes of the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara". They also discussed their plans to
The International Conference Against War, Westminster Hall, June 20 2026further interfere militarily in the Strait of Hormuz, against Iran and the Arab states with the Prime Minister and Secretary General claiming the need to "ensure the safe passage of global shipping". And Starmer updated Rutte on the UK's "military assets in the region to support a multi-national mission when the conditions allowed". Reports suggest that this was followed by discussion on the possibility of Starmer's applying for a new role, following his resignation, as future Secretary General of NATO which he is said to be "considering". A further reason for the people to demand that NATO is dismantled immediately!

One of the main themes revealed over these two weeks from when Starmer announced his resignation, was that he has also indicated at every opportunity that nothing would change in the government or Britain's position in the "transition of power" to the new leader. In other words, the change of leadership is looking increasingly like a "coronation" for Andy Burnham which was first stated to take place by the end of September following Burnham's by-election victory at Makerfield on June 18. Now the change of leaders could be as early as this month with Starmer asking Labour's body ruling the nomination process to replace him and to open this process on Thursday, July 9, and close it by the summer recess of Parliament, which begins on Thursday, July 16.

This shows that the political crisis of the cartel party system continues to deepen. The rule it represents is that of the rich, exercised through the police powers wielded by the government Executive. In other words, whatever the personality of the leadership contender, whether warmonger or even a pro-people peacemaker, it is this cartel party system that brooks no change in its anti-people warmongering aims, come the change of party leader, or change in government.

This is why the urgent need for a change in the direction of society and the economy is a must for the whole body politic. This change calls for the democratic renewal of the political process and institutions, to envision and build new forms in this transitional period. The working class and people are inevitably borne up in class struggle as they take up this task. The cutting edge of this work at present is the challenge to bring into being an anti-war government with a modern democratic personality. The old political system is based on "representatives" authorised to speak in the name of the electorate, which is disempowering. The necessity is for worker politicians, for the working class and people to speak in their own name, upholding mass democratic methods and principles.

While the ruling elite may think that with Andy Burnham becoming Prime Minister, they will continue to hold all the cards, the disillusionment with the cartel party system and the sentiment for a new society means that the there is no cause for pessimism or for panic, as the working class and people become receptive to the proposals of the Party and its work, which point the way forward to the creation of a new society and a world of socialised humanity.

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Notes
1. PM speech announcing the Defence Investment Plan: 30 June 2026
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-speech-announcing-the-defence-investment-plan-30-june-2026
2. Press release: PM meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: 29 June 2026
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-meeting-with-nato-secretary-general-mark-rutte-29-june-2026

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