David Lammy told Labour MPs to “stop the own goals” as leadership infighting plays out in the run-up to the Makerfield by-election, where Andy Burnham has also turned his campaign presence into football talk.
When Labour MPs are weighing up whether to challenge Sir Keir Starmer, David Lammy has chosen to fight the row with football metaphors.
Appearing on Sky News this morning. the Deputy Prime Minister chastised Labour MPs for backing efforts to overthrow the Prime Minister.. To presenter Sophy Ridge. he said: “Now is the time to stop the own goals. to get on the pitch. to pass the ball amongst ourselves. to play in the right direction. to score some goals on behalf of the British public.”
It was a message steeped in sporting imagery. even as the political backdrop remains tense: the Makerfield by-election has not officially started yet. but the outcome will determine whether Andy Burnham. Mayor of Greater Manchester. gets the seat in the House of Commons and the platform to challenge Starmer for the leadership.
Football talk has already started to leak into the campaign atmosphere. Wes Streeting drew attention with a tweet saying: “We need our best players on the pitch. There is no doubt that Andy Burnham is one of them.”
Burnham’s own public appearances have featured heavy Everton references.. News cameras have captured the mayor out on a morning run several times in the past week. always wearing a classic Everton shirt.. Yesterday evening. he tweeted about watching the Scouse club’s 3-1 defeat to Sunderland and speaking to punters who were also in attendance.
In an interview with ITV News, Burnham said he wanted to ‘get rid’ of VAR tech, arguing: “You can’t celebrate a goal because you think someone, somewhere in an industrial unit is going to rule it out.”
That stance sets up potential friction within Labour, because another top figure has previously differed.. In an interview with Metro in April 2024, Sir Keir Starmer said: “I would change the offside rule.. I wouldn’t change VAR, I’d change the offside rule to make it more beneficial for the attacking team.”
The shifting football language—Streeting praising Burnham as a “best” player. Burnham criticising VAR. and Lammy urging fellow MPs to stop “own goals”—runs alongside a single political thread: the Makerfield result could shape who has the route to pressure or challenge Starmer. while every intervention keeps the leadership fight firmly on the pitch.
For now, Burnham continues to build visibility through his Everton themed routine, while Lammy’s Sky News intervention offers Labour a direct, metaphor-heavy push for unity behind Starmer ahead of the vote.
David Lammy Keir Starmer Wes Streeting Andy Burnham Makerfield by-election Labour leadership football metaphors VAR Everton Sky News Sophy Ridge