Andy Burnham hits again at claims he’s plotting to interchange Sir Keir Starmer as PM | EUROtoday

Andy Burnham has hit again at renewed hypothesis that he’s plotting to return to Westminster and oust Sir Keir Starmer as Labour chief.

The Greater Manchester mayor, who was the main focus of comparable rumours on the Labour Party convention in September, reacted with fury on the reviews in Sunday newspapers over his alleged plans.

Taking to X, he mentioned: “Quite a lot of rubbish in the papers today. Reminds me why I left Westminster in the first place!”

Former Labour minister Mr Burnham, who has repeatedly refused to explicitly rule out a management bid in latest months, is alleged to have recognized a possible parliamentary seat from which to problem Sir Keir.

The Mail on Sunday reported that Commons allies of the mayor had mentioned they’d discovered him a seat which was “likely to come free” within the coming months. Mr Burnham’s crew declined to remark.

But it got here as one other potential contender for Sir Keir’s job, residence secretary Shabana Mahmood, ducked questions on her personal plans.

She didn’t deny that she would really like the highest job simply days after a high-profile occasion with Sir Tony Blair, which many current noticed as an endorsement by the previous PM for her as the subsequent chief.

While insisting Labour figures ought to “focus on the day job” of delivering for the general public and Sir Keir is “not going”, Ms Mahmood famous that “there is a Muslim woman as home secretary” which implies there may very well be one as prime minister sooner or later.

The persevering with hypothesis has come as Labour proceed to battle within the polls, caught round simply 20 per cent round 10 factors behind Nigel Farage and Reform with many additionally switching to the Greens.

In addition, it was revealed final week that 100,000 beforehand paid-up Labour members have left the social gathering since final 12 months’s election, leaving Reform as the largest membership social gathering.

Downing Street has already addressed considerations that well being secretary Wes Streeting is plotting to oust the PM, whereas there are reviews that power secretary Ed Miliband is contemplating a return as Labour chief and former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner desires the highest job too.

But amid the contemporary hypothesis about Mr Burnham’s ambitions, the house secretary mentioned everybody throughout the social gathering had their “role to play” in backing the federal government after reviews the Greater Manchester mayor is searching for a Westminster comeback, which his allies haven’t denied.

Speaking to broadcasters on Sunday, Ms Mahmood advised that “every single person” had thought in regards to the high job, however added: “That is not the same as plotting to overthrow a prime minister for God’s sake.”

Asked whether or not she would contemplate a management bid if Sir Keir stepped down, Ms Mahmood informed the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg present: “Keir Starmer is not going.”

The residence secretary, who has beforehand indicated she harbours ambitions for No 10, mentioned: “The prime minister is getting on with doing his job.

“I am a member of his government. I have a big job of my own to do, and that is the only thing I’m focused on.”

Ms Mahmood urged Labour MPs to assist be sure “we don’t waste a single second of the time that we have in government”.

“I think that all of us in government and in the Labour Party have a responsibility to focus on the day job and to get on with delivering for the British people,” she mentioned.

“So actually, this is on the whole of the government and all of the parliamentary Labour Party and the whole Labour movement to make sure we don’t waste a single second of the time that we have in government.”

Asked about Mr Burnham, she told Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme: “Labour governments don’t come along very often, and every minute that we have in government is precious. We have a big agenda. We have to crack on with delivering.

“It’s a privilege to be in government. I’m focused on the big job that I have as home secretary, and my advice to all colleagues everywhere would be that it’s a precious privilege, and we mustn’t waste a single minute of it.”

She mentioned: “Wherever you sit in the Labour family, we all have a role to play in supporting the Labour government deliver for the people of this country.”