Andy Burnham has a credible plan to return to Westminster "within weeks", his allies have said, as the Greater Manchester mayor prepares to use a byelection campaign to set out a new agenda for government. Burnham, who was blocked by Labour's ruling body from standing in February's Gorton and Denton byelection, has identified several seats where MPs are prepared to step aside for his leadership bid.
His team is understood to have lined up an "impressive" candidate to replace him as mayor, in a sign that the campaign is more advanced than previously thought. Allies say Burnham will outline a "radical rewiring" of the state, including sweeping electoral system changes and a 10-year growth plan, after a potentially devastating set of elections on 7 May that could end Sir Keir Starmer's premiership.
The number of MPs backing Burnham has grown to far more than the 80 required to challenge the prime minister. However, supporters hope to avoid a formal leadership contest and instead engineer a process where Starmer sets out a timetable to stand down. Discussions have included the possibility of Burnham offering Starmer the role of foreign secretary, with Ed Miliband and Angela Rayner expected to take top jobs in a Burnham government.
Burnham, a former health secretary, has made a series of policy speeches at thinktanks in recent weeks. His pledges include introducing proportional representation across the UK, a 10-year plan for local services, and an overhaul of inheritance tax to fund social care. Several possible parliamentary seats have been identified in Greater Manchester and Merseyside.
One Burnham ally said: "He's just so obviously the person best placed to turn the Labour party around. He has popularity in terms of polling, in terms of personality and a plan." However, another MP backing Burnham noted a lack of coordination between the disparate groups who might support him.
