Downing Street has been accused of orchestrating a plot to derail Andy Burnham's chances of returning to parliament, according to allies of the Greater Manchester mayor. Fears have been raised that the Labour leadership will offer only nominal support for Mr Burnham in the Makerfield by-election, stopping short of a three-line whip for MPs to campaign for him.
Labour MPs have reportedly been told by allies of the prime minister that Mr Burnham could bring back Jeremy Corbyn, who was expelled from the party in 2024 over antisemitism. Many Labour backbenchers believe the party has little chance in the seat, where Reform recently swept nearly all council seats. Reform's candidate is expected to be local plumber and councillor Robert Kenyon, though Dr David Bull, who stepped down as party chairman on Monday, is also a possibility.
A source close to Sir Keir Starmer reportedly conceded that if Mr Burnham wins in Makerfield, he will almost certainly become prime minister. Polling experts Professor Sir John Curtice and Lord Robert Hayward also stated that Mr Burnham would become the next Labour leader if he secures the seat. Allies of Wes Streeting dismissed the idea that blocking Mr Burnham would save the prime minister, warning that thousands of activists are ready to campaign for a candidate to unseat him.
A close ally of Sir Keir warned that the price of support from the left could be reinstating Mr Corbyn and taking a hard line on Israel, amid a peak in antisemitism. Sir Keir said on Monday he would back the Labour candidate "100 per cent" but refused to set a timetable for his own departure. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy accused Labour MPs of "scoring a spectacular own goal" by trying to depose Sir Keir.
Mr Burnham made a major speech in Leeds laying out his agenda for big changes in how Britain is run. He said a vote for him was a vote to make life more affordable, power up places, and re-industrialise. Professor Curtice suggested that if Mr Burnham does not enter the leadership race, Angela Rayner would be the likely successor, only narrowly beating Sir Keir. Lord Hayward noted that Mr Streeting's intervention on rejoining the EU could derail Mr Burnham in the strongly Leave-voting constituency.
