Starmer's Conference Speech Bought Him Time – But May's Elections Could Still Spell The End For The PM

<div><img src="https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/68dcf1b21400001e905c6a08.jpeg?cache=S2ORo7QkCn&ops=scalefit_630_noupscale" alt="Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer gestures as he gives his keynote speech at the annual Labour Party conference in Liverpool, England, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. " data-caption="Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer gestures as he gives his keynote speech at the annual Labour Party conference in Liverpool, England, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. " data-credit-link-back="" data-credit="via Associated Press" />Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer gestures as he gives his keynote speech at the annual Labour Party conference in Liverpool, England, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. </div><div class="content-list-component text"><p>It was one of the defining images of the <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/labour-party/">Labour </a>Party conference.</p><p>Shortly before <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/keir-starmer/">Keir Starmer </a>was due to give his keynote speech on Tuesday afternoon, <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/andy-burnham/">Andy Burnham </a>was pictured leaving the venue flanked by two aides.</p><p>After days of will-he-won’t-he speculation about the mayor of Manchester’s leadership intentions, it was a fairly ignominious departure.</p><p>Burnham had started off as the conference darling, his every move followed by a posse of photographers as he went from fringe event to fringe event telling delegates where the government is going wrong.</p><p>But, amid mounting anger from Labour MPs at his behaviour, he ultimately disappointed his supporters by giving Starmer his backing to continue as leader. </p><p>“Every time the party is having a tough time Andy follows the same patt