Keir Starmer told he's toast if Andy Burnham's No10 plot fails as MPs prepare to defect

Sir Keir Starmer has been warned he could be booted out of Downing Street if Andy Burnham fails to win the Makerfield by-election as Labour braces for mass backbench defections to the Greens.

Former Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips told the Hay Festival "there will be a change of PM" even if the Greater Manchester Mayor does not gain a seat in Parliament.

However, she was quick to add: "I've never been to Wigan in my life, so I have absolutely no idea about the people there, so I shall go and find out. But, yes, I imagine Andy Burnham will win it, and I imagine then that the Prime Minister changes.

It comes as Green Party sources have suggested Labour backbenchers have approached Zack Polanski's party, declaring their intention to defect.

However, these talks have been paused until the outcome of the crucial by-election on June 18.

Senior left-wing backbenchers, Norwich South MP Clive Lewis and Leeds East MP Richard Burgon, were among the MPs prepared to defect.

Green Party leader in Westminster Ellie Chowns said the party still intends to stand a candidate in the upcoming by-election.

The Herefordshire North MP told The Telegraph: "We are a political party, we exist to stand in every election. In this particular constituency, there is a question, I think, about the extent to which any party might throw the kitchen sink at a campaign.

"We threw the kitchen sink at Gorton and Denton, and we won it. Makerfield is a different kettle of fish."

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