Andy Burnham has clapped back at fresh reports suggesting he is plotting a return to Parliament to challenge Keir Starmer after the May elections.
Speculation emerged overnight that the Mayor of Greater Manchester was eyeing a Westminster comeback, with the Sunday Times claiming his allies had identified a “nailed-on” seat where polling showed he could take on Reform.
Burnham dismissed the chatter this morning, tweeting: “Quite a lot of rubbish in the papers today. Reminds me why I left Westminster in the first place!”
The rumours come amid growing questions over Keir Starmer’s leadership. If Labour suffers heavy losses in Scotland, Wales, or English local authorities in May, Starmer could face a challenge. Crucially, only sitting MPs are eligible to run for Labour leader.
Burnham has long refused to rule out another leadership bid, but any return to Westminster would be far from straightforward. Seat selections must be approved by Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC).
One constituency previously floated was Gorton and Denton, held by Andrew Gwynne, who has denied he would step aside despite his suspension over offensive WhatsApps. Labour MP Clive Lewis has also said he would make way for Burnham in Norwich South, though the seat is far from Burnham’s Manchester base.
Burnham irritated colleagues last autumn when he fuelled speculation at Labour conference, and ministers remain wary of his manoeuvres.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood issued a warning this morning, telling Sky News: “Labour Governments don’t come along very often and every moment we have in Government is precious. My advice to all colleagues everywhere would be that it’s a precious privilege and we mustn’t waste a single minute of it.”
Asked if that included Burnham, she added: “Wherever you sit in the Labour family, we all have a role to play in helping the Labour Government deliver for the people of this country.”
Starmer himself told the Mirror last month that he would lead Labour into the next election, despite damaging briefing wars between No10 and Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
Deputy Leader Lucy Powell has also urged unity, warning that disunity risks gifting Nigel Farage and Reform new power bases. Writing in the Mirror, she said: “We must all get behind Keir Starmer, so we don’t gift our opponents – especially Reform – councils to run badly, or a power base in Wales or Scotland to run amok. We owe it to the country to pull together, put the country first and defeat the politics of hate and division.”
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