Andy Burnham has withdrawn from a keynote speech he was scheduled to deliver on the morning after the local elections, amid growing speculation of a Labour leadership challenge against Sir Keir Starmer. The Greater Manchester Mayor had been set to address the second annual Festival of Childhood at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester on Friday morning. However, on Thursday evening, organisers announced that he would be replaced by Caroline Simpson, group chief executive of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. A spokesperson for the children's commissioner's office confirmed to the Press Association that Mr Burnham will not attend the event at all.
Reports suggest that Mr Burnham has a plan to return to Westminster within weeks and intends to challenge the Prime Minister. Voters went to the polls on Thursday for the Scottish and Welsh parliaments, as well as for local councils across England, in the biggest test of public opinion since the 2024 general election. There have been reports that MPs are moving to oust the Prime Minister in the wake of the elections, in a bloodless coup modelled on the way Sir Tony Blair was encouraged to step aside for his successor Gordon Brown.
Leadership Rumblings
Reports of backbench plans to move against Sir Keir come amid rumblings of a potential leadership tilt by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, or Mr Burnham. Allies of Ms Rayner are confident she would be able to gain the support of the 81 MPs required to launch a challenge, a number which Mr Streeting is also said to have met, though neither is said to want to be the first to move. Meanwhile, Mr Burnham has been tipped as a party favourite to succeed the Prime Minister, but he would face several logistical obstacles to return to Westminster should he mount a bid for No 10.
Return to Parliament
The Greater Manchester Mayor has identified several seats where MPs are prepared to step aside, triggering by-elections that could pave the way for his return to Parliament, according to The Guardian. The newspaper also reported that Mr Burnham's supporters are attempting to avoid a formal leadership challenge against the Prime Minister and hope to initiate a process for him to stand down after Labour's local election results. Mr Burnham was earlier this year blocked by Labour's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election after the previous MP Andrew Gwynne stood down, citing health reasons. The NEC, which included Sir Keir, cited concerns about the costs of running a new Manchester mayoral election and fears that Reform could take the mayoralty as reasons for blocking Mr Burnham.
Mr Burnham, who served as health secretary in Gordon Brown's government, is also said to be preparing a progressive policy platform for government, according to The Guardian.
