Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has reportedly sought advice from Sue Gray, Sir Keir Starmer's former chief of staff, on how to form a future Labour government. The discussions, which took place amid growing speculation about a Labour leadership contest, were reported by The Guardian.
Gray, who led the 'Partygate' inquiry and resigned from Downing Street in 2024, discussed with Burnham the logistics of a transition into government. This suggests that Burnham's potential succession is being taken seriously by senior Labour figures.
Burnham is currently standing in the Makerfield by-election, a key contest that could determine the future of the Labour Party. If he wins, he is expected to use his return to Parliament to trigger a leadership challenge against Sir Keir Starmer, whom polls suggest he would beat.
The leadership speculation has exposed deep splits within the party. Chief Secretary Darren Jones warned against 'fantasy politics', urging colleagues to focus on national challenges. However, he described Burnham as 'a brilliant politician' and pledged to campaign for him in Makerfield.
Starmer has vowed to remain as leader despite calls from nearly 100 MPs to resign after poor local election results. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has openly discussed launching a campaign to oust Starmer, but suggested he would wait for Burnham to return to Parliament first.
