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The Prime Minister has declined to comment directly on Andy Burnham’s potential leadership ambitions, but drew parallels between the Mayor of Manchester’s economic proposals and the policies enacted by Liz Truss.
Sir Keir Starmer’s remarks follow Burnham’s disclosure to the Daily Telegraph that Labour MPs had contacted him over the summer, encouraging him to consider a leadership bid.
In a separate interview with the New Statesman, Burnham outlined an alternative economic vision, including a 50p top rate of income tax and tax relief for lower earners, further intensifying speculation about a potential challenge to the incumbent leader.
Speaking to the BBC, Sir Keir likened Burnham’s economic suggestions to those of Truss, whose brief tenure as Conservative Prime Minister in 2022 was described as “a disaster for working people.”
When asked about reports of Labour MPs urging Burnham to launch a leadership challenge, the Prime Minister stated, “I’m not going to get drawn in to commenting on the personal ambitions of the Mayor, but I do want to be really clear about our fiscal rules because economic stability is the foundation stone of this government.”
“It was three years ago this week that we had the Liz Truss experiment where she abandoned fiscal rules, in her case for tax cuts, and the result was a disaster for working people.
“The same would be true if you abandoned fiscal rules in favour of spending, and I’m not prepared to ever have that inflicted on working people again.”
The Prime Minister’s recent weeks have been marked by the resignation of Deputy Angela Rayner following revelations of underpaid stamp duty, and the dismissal of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador amid renewed scrutiny of his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Ongoing economic concerns surrounding the cost of living, coupled with expectations of new taxes in November’s budget and anxieties about Labour’s performance in upcoming local and national elections, continue to cast a shadow.
Burnham’s recent interviews precede the Labour Party’s autumn conference in Liverpool, where Sir Keir Starmer aims to refocus attention on the government’s achievements.
Speaking on BBC Radio Manchester, the Mayor explained his perspective, stating, “I was asked a direct question by a journalist and I gave an honest answer and that’s been reported today. MPs were in touch with me.”
Burnham emphasized that initiating a challenge to the Prime Minister is a decision for the parliamentary party, as he is not currently a Member of Parliament.
However, this obstacle could be overcome if an ally were to resign, paving the way for Burnham to contest a by-election – assuming he could win amidst the rising popularity of Reform UK.
Should Burnham secure a Westminster seat, it would mark his third attempt at leadership, having previously lost to Ed Miliband and Jeremy Corbyn. He would require the support of at least 80 MPs to proceed.
A contingent of dissatisfied Labour MPs appears to support Burnham, particularly among the group who rebelled against welfare reforms, compelling Downing Street to implement a last-minute reversal.
However, a majority of Labour MPs contacted by the BBC have expressed opposition to a leadership challenge by Burnham.
BBC Radio 5 Live’s Matt Chorley sought comment from 320 of the 399 Labour MPs. While many who responded voiced concerns about the Labour government’s performance, few believed Burnham’s return would improve the situation.
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