Labour faces growing criticism over its perceived indecision on leadership and defence policy as internal discussions reportedly continue about a delayed transition of power. With the party’s leadership renewal contingent on the outcome of the upcoming Makerfield by-election on June 18, senior figures are pressing for clarity amid mounting concerns about stalled military spending plans.

According to reports, Sir Keir Starmer’s allies are considering extending his tenure as Labour leader for a further six months before handing over the reins to Andy Burnham, the mayor of Manchester and a leading challenger. This proposed extended transition period is said to be aimed at allowing Sir Keir to solidify his legacy, though some within the party have expressed frustration. A senior Labour MP described the prospect of a “lame-duck” prime minister remaining in office alongside a waiting successor as counterproductive and damaging to party cohesion.

The debate comes amid calls for the long-overdue Defence Investment Plan to be published. The plan, which outlines the government’s priorities for military spending and strategy, was originally scheduled for release last year but has yet to materialize. The delay has raised concerns especially given ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake criticized the government for what he called “dither and delay,” accusing Labour of paralysis both in leadership and in setting a clear defence policy.

Amid these tensions, former Prime Minister Tony Blair added fuel to internal Labour divisions by publicly criticizing Sir Keir’s leadership for lacking a “coherent plan.” However, it was later reported that Blair had privately encouraged Sir Keir to continue in his role during a phone call some weeks earlier.

Disagreements are also reported behind the scenes regarding defence funding. Some sources allege Chancellor Rachel Reeves has resisted increasing the defence budget by an additional £18 billion, although her allies deny these claims.

Recent polling reflects the ongoing leadership debate, with a survey conducted by former Conservative deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft showing Andy Burnham leading in voter preference as a potential prime minister, at 32 percent. This compares with 19 percent support for the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and 17 percent for Reform UK’s Nigel Farage. Despite Burnham’s relative popularity, only 20 percent of respondents believed that a change in Labour leadership would improve the government’s performance, while 57 percent disagreed.

Downing Street has denied that any formal plans exist for a leadership transition, asserting that the current prime minister has publicly confirmed his intention to remain in office. Meanwhile, the Labour Party continues to face internal pressures to resolve its leadership and policy uncertainties ahead of the by-election.