Keir Starmer's own Cabinet minister praises leadership rival Andy Burnham

A member of Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet has said she would “support” Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, seen as a potential replacement for Sir Keir Starmer, if Mr Burnham chose to return to Parliament as an MP. The comments, from Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, follow reports that Labour MPs are plotting to remove the Prime Minister. Mr Burnham, who is due to make a number of appearances at Labour’s forthcoming party conference, is regarded as a possible challenger but would first need to make a return to the House of Commons.

Ms Nandy expressed her “love” for Mr Burnham and told an interviewer: “I love Andy, and whatever he decides to do, I’ll support him. I think he’s been a fantastic champion for the North, and whether he wants to do that as the Mayor of Greater Manchester or as a Member of Parliament, I think he’s got an enormous contribution to make.” By contrast, Sir Keir’s closest allies within the Government have been urging Mr Burnham, MP for Leigh from 2001 to 2017, to stick to the mayor job. Business Secretary Peter Kyle said on Sunday: “It would be a shame for Manchester to lose him.”

In a further sign of divisions within the party, Ms Nandy confirmed she was backing former Cabinet Minister Lucy Powell, who was sacked in Sir Keir’s recent reshuffle, to be Labour’s next Deputy Leader.

Ms Powell has called on the party to “communicate much more strongly what our values are” and to scrap the two child benefit cap, in a break with Government policy.

But a Labour Mayor has suggested that victory for Ms Powell could trigger “internal warfare.”

East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward endorsed the other candidate in the contest, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, who is thought to be backed by the Prime Minister. Ms Ward told website PoliticsHome: “I want somebody who’s got some clout, that will work collaboratively, because what we don’t need is internal warfare.”

Labour backbencher Jonathan Brash added to speculation about Sir Keir’s future by stating that Labour could change leaders without prompting a general election, even thogh this would also mean a new Prime Minister.

The Hartlepool MP was responding to suggestions from Conservative Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg that an election should be held if Sir Keir resigned. Mr Brash responded on X: “Remember when the Tories changed PM five times without a General Election? Did you say this then? Of course not you utter hypocrite. Stop treating the British public with contempt.”

And former Labour MP Tom Harris pointed out that the Conservatives have changed prime minister eight times outside a general election since the Second World II, while Labour have done it twice. He said: “Perfectly acceptable and inevitable constitutional practice.”

Sir Keir has launched a charm offensive to try to win back support from angry Labour MPs, making the effort to vote in the Commons - giving him a chance to speak to colleagues in the division lobby - and showing his face in the Commons tea room and the smoking room, which sells drinks and snacks.

Some colleagues are furious about the Government’s mistakes such as bungled attempts to limit winter fuel payments and disability benefits, as well as the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US. However Labour MPs also warn that Sir Keir has failed to cultivate support among his MPs and gives the impression he “dislikes” his own colleagues.

Mr Burnham is celebrating a victory this week after the Government pressed ahead with a “Hillsborough Law” designed to make it easier for members of the public to demand answers from police and other public bodies following tragedies or miscarriages of justice. Mr Burnham has led calls for such a law.