UK politics live: Andy Burnham told to ‘pipe down’ by Labour peer after revealing MPs asked him to oust Starmer – UK Times

A cabinet minister has dismissed suggestions Andy Burnham could mount a challenge for the Labour leadership as “tittle-tattle”.

Housing secretary Steve Reed told Times Radio: “I’ve seen this movie before.

“When we were in opposition, we used to hear similar things about Keir Starmer. That was before he picked this party up off the floor and led us into a record-breaking general election victory.

“Now our job is to get on and change the country.”

He added: “Change is what people voted for, change is what we’re going to deliver, and I’m not going to be diverted by tittle-tattle in the papers.”

Andy Burnham has been told to “pipe down” by a Labour peer after he said MPs are privately urging him to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership.

Thangam Debbonaire said Mr Burnham to stop “sticking his oar in” and when asked if he should pipe down, she said she “would like him to”.

“I don’t think it’s helpful for anybody to start sticking their oar in about who should or should not replace Keir Starmer,” she said.

“I don’t think it’s helpful for anybody to start sticking their oar in about who should or should not replace Keir Starmer.”

Andy Burnham has insisted he is not plotting an immediate return to the Commons.

Despite admitting MPs had asked him to challenge Starmer, he said he did not want to step on the government’s toes as it seeks a reset at the Labour Party conference.

Andy Burnham has said MPs are privately urging him to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership in an intervention likely to fuel speculation he could be seeking a return to Westminster.

Asked if MPs had urged him to run for the top job, he said: “People have contacted me throughout the summer – yeah.

“I’m not going to say to you that that hasn’t happened, but as I say, it’s more a decision for those people than it is for me.”