A new poll has revealed that Andy Burnham would decisively beat Sir Keir Starmer in a Labour leadership contest, positioning the Greater Manchester Mayor as the clear favourite among party members.
Polling Results
The YouGov survey found that 59 per cent of Labour members would back Mr Burnham, while only 37 per cent would support the Prime Minister. Overall, 47 per cent ranked Mr Burnham as their first choice for leader, compared to 31 per cent for Sir Keir. Former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner came third with 8 per cent, while Wes Streeting received just 4 per cent, with 57 per cent saying he was wrong to resign as health secretary.
Burnham's Ambitions
Mr Burnham has made clear his intention to return to Parliament by fighting the upcoming Makerfield by-election, a move widely seen as a launchpad for a leadership bid. He stated on Monday that a vote for him would be a vote to 'change Labour'. Polling experts Professor Sir John Curtice and Lord Robert Hayward predict that if Mr Burnham wins the by-election, he will become the next Labour leader.
Starmer's Position
Despite almost 100 MPs calling for his resignation after poor local election results, Sir Keir has vowed to fight any leadership challenge. He said he would '100 per cent' support the Labour candidate in Makerfield but refused to set a timetable for his departure, even if Mr Burnham returns to Parliament. To force a contest, Mr Burnham would need the backing of 81 Labour MPs.
Allegations of Plotting
Allies of Mr Burnham have accused Downing Street of plotting to derail his return to Parliament. The Independent revealed that Labour MPs have been told by Sir Keir's allies that Mr Burnham could bring back former leader Jeremy Corbyn, who was expelled in 2024 over antisemitism allegations.
