Crewe MP calls for PM to resign and backs Burnham after 'catastrophic' local election results

By Ryan Parker 8th May 2026

Local News by Ryan Parker 8th May 2026 9

Crewe and Nantwich MP, Connor Naismith, has publicly called for the Prime Minister to resign, backing Andy Burnham (Photo: Ryan Parker).

Crewe and Nantwich's Labour MP has publicly called for the Prime Minister to resign following "devastating" and "catastrophic" local election results for the party across the UK.

In a strongly worded statement issued in the aftermath of the elections, Connor Naismith MP praised Labour activists, councillors and campaigners for their efforts.

Calling for Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, to be given the opportunity to "re-enter parliament," the Crewe MP insisted many had "worked extremely hard in difficult circumstances," only to lose because of "factors outside of their control."

Mr Naismith said: "This set of local election results are devastating for the Labour Party.

"Good councillors, MSPs, MSs and candidates have worked extremely hard in difficult circumstances, but have lost as a result of factors outside of their control.

"While in recent weeks I have been clear in my mind that there should be no distractions from those hard working volunteers, organisers, councillors and candidates across the country trying to secure election, it is only right that in the wake of such difficult results we tell some hard truths.

Connor Naismith MP is calling for Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, to be given the opportunity to 're-enter parliament' (Photo: UK Parliament).

"The Prime Minister is a good man. A man of integrity. He secured a General Election victory no one believed possible and has led from the front on the world stage in difficult circumstances.

"These attributes alone are not enough. In these elections, we have once again seen our historic coalition fall apart, with voters leaving us both to the left and to the right.

"We are witnessing a fracturing of our politics which cannot be tolerated and which needs strong leadership that the country can unite behind.

"In the wake of these catastrophic local election results, with regret, it is clear to me that we need new leadership.

"Leadership which is capable of bringing together a broad coalition of voters to stop the Thatcherite politics of Reform UK.

"The world is in a turbulent place so any transition of power should be orderly, and should facilitate voices from across our movement to chart the course for what we do next.

"That must include giving Andy Burnham the opportunity to re-enter parliament if an opportunity arises and if he wishes to do so."

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Comments (9)

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Well surprise, surprise, Naismith voted against holding a parliamentary investigation into Starmer and the Mandleson affair, which could have finished Starmer anyway. Now he openly wants him gone. He is my message for our MP we want you to quit as well!

The labourer party has done so much damage for the working class people.
Mistakes,like when they stopped the winter fuel allowance announced by Rachel Reeves on 29th July 2024 for pensioners.
Cost of living making it harder to get by, but it's not labours fault as they say it was inherited from the conservatives.
Fuel rises again as Labour would say this is because of the Iran war and is out of our control,
Having said that, The Chancellor Rachel Reeves doesn't tell you because of this happening I'm making an extra 20 MILLION A DAY IN FUEL TAX ( for the record I've done my homework on this)
We need a new party a new priminister not a change of leadership,
As the old saying is best to now the Devil than not to now the Devil,
I'm sorry to say Labour have tried their best but it's not good enough.

reply to commenst on my first post (which I can't reply to directly!)

Chipper, you post nonsense sometimes. Warrington has never been in HS2 plans! And you actually commented on an article last Tuesday which mentioned plans for Crewe station being shown at a property exhibition in 2 weeks time, where I pointed out they are waiting for some civil servants to approve changes to some regualtions. Are you admitting that you post comemnts on articles that you haven't actually read??

We all know the station is in a state and those of us who can keep track of events will remember how in 2013 there were plans ready to go but a late and not lamented conservative council leader stopped them and dragged the subject off for a couple of years before his mad idea was shot down by the DfT. So new plans were done (and they were good) but they got hijacked by roads people in CEC and before that could be sorted out Sunak crashed the project by cancelling HS2. If it hadn't been for conservative meddling we would have got a rebuilt station 10 years ago - and since Reform have aleady promised to block all spending on high speed projects it looks like it wil be another 10 years.

Burnham has no chance of returning,National executive will vote against him again,plus he'd do nothing for this area,already seen Crewe is bottom of the pile when it comes to transportation (railway).

"Thatcherite politics of Reform"? Thatcher wouldn't have let Farage through the door, even she had some standards.

The whole Labour organisation is damaged, it needs someone like Alistair Campbell to drag it back into shape - and he's past it. Burnham needs to bite the bullet and form a new Northern party to get us free from the London games.