Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is facing a backlash from dozens of Labour MPs over suggestions he could mount a challenge to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.
Burnham has criticised the Labour government in a series of interviews and says he has been contacted by Labour MPs urging him to stand.
But the majority of Labour MPs contacted by the said they were against such a move.
One said the mayor “seems to promote himself every time there’s a perceived crack in the wall… a bit like Japanese knotweed” and a government minister said there were a “few disgruntled MPs who make up the Burnham fan club” and the rest just wanted him to “focus on his actual job in Manchester”.
Radio 5 Live asked 320 out of the 399 Labour MPs currently sitting in Parliament for comment. Many of the dozens who replied were unhappy at the performance of the Labour government, but few suggested Burnham’s return would improve their fortunes.
Sir Keir has been rocked by a series of scandals, including the resignation of former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and the forced departure of former US ambassador Lord Mandelson.
In the latest development, the PM’s director of communications Steph Driver has quit her role.
Sir Keir said she had been “a loyal and valued member” of his team for almost five years.
Driver is the third person in six months with the “director of communications” title to leave Downing Street.
There appears to be little appetite among Labour MPs for a change at the very top of government.
Some Labour MPs who spoke to the were hostile to Burnham and said a leadership challenge so soon after last year’s general election would be damaging for the party.
One said it would be “madness” to get rid of the prime minister at this stage, while one minister branded Burnham’s comments “completely illogical and utterly self-indulgent”.
Others dismissed Burnham’s chances of returning to Westminster and said his flirtations with a leadership bid had been unhelpful for the party at a difficult time.
Some Labour MPs have gone public with their views on Burnham.
Markus Campbell-Savours, the Labour MP for Penrith and Solway, said Burnham would need to find a safe seat to come back to the House of Commons.
He said: “There are none. He won’t be in Parliament anytime soon. So if there really are colleagues who think he’s going to swoop in and save the day, they need to give their head a wobble.”
Sojan Joseph, the Labour MP for Ashford, said he “completely supported the prime minister and his vision for change”.
He said: “Andy Burnham is doing a very good job as mayor of Manchester and he is best placed to focus on that, rather than speculate on leadership ambitions.”
Some MPs, speaking off the record to the , were supportive of Burnham.
One veteran backbencher said: “It’s the worst kept secret in politics that Andy would love to be back in Parliament and of course he had his eyes laser focussed on the top job.”
He added that “many Labour MPs particularly those from outside the capital see Andy Burnham as the potential saviour of their own positions come the next election”.
Another backbencher said it was “good” that Burnham had “come out with some constructive ideas” – and another said the Manchester mayor “offers something different”.
“He is certainly offering a vision which is severely lacking at the minute,” added the MP.
Even though there does not appear to be a widespread appetite for a change in leadership, Labour MPs are worried about local and national elections in Wales, Scotland and England next year and the rise of Reform UK in opinion polls.
One minister acknowledged the elections would be tough and speculated that a leadership challenge before then may not be beyond the realms of possibility.
In an interview with the , Burnham has said it was up to Labour MPs to decide whether the party needs a change of leadership.
The mayor said Labour MPs “were in touch with me” to discuss the leadership and urged the government to develop a “proper plan for the country”.
He has also given interviews to the Telegraph, the Guardian and the New Statesman, which wrote up a lengthy profile that described his vision for the country.
To challenge for the Labour leadership, Burnham would need to become an MP.
Many barriers would stand in the way if he decided to chart that course, not least the selection process to stand for a vacant seat.
If he made it to Parliament, Burnham would have to secure the backing of 80 Labour MPs to challenge Sir Keir for the leadership.
