Sir Keir Starmer’s allies have said Andy Burnham’s would be Labour’s Liz Truss after the Manchester mayor shared his vision of how to “turn the country around”
The Manchester mayor revealed on Thursday that MPs had asked him to challenge Starmer’s leadership, in an intervention that has fuelled speculation he could be seeking a return to Westminster.
But a Labour figure told Bloomberg that Burnham’s policy suggestions are “unserious and irresponsible” and would risk triggering a bond market rout, saying he would be the party’s Liz Truss.
Burnham told The Telegraph that he wanted £40 billion extra borrowing to pay for new council homes and also told the New Statesman that the government must stop being “in hock to the bond market”.
He has denied he sought out MPs to ask if he should challenge the prime minister for the Labour leadership on Thursday morning, and urged the party to focus on a plan to “beat Reform”.
“I’ve not gone out there, me on my own, people have been getting in touch with me and I’ve said to them its not a matter for me,” he told the BBC.
“This is ultimately a matter for the party in Westminster to decide.”
Key Points
- Burnham claims Labour MPs urging him to challenge Starmer
- Burnham denies asking MPs if he should try to oust Starmer as Labour leader
- Labour peer tells Burnham to 'pipe down'
- Minister dismisses Burnham challenge suggestions as 'tittle-tattle'
Driver: Keir Starmer's government has my 'unwavering support'
15:17
,
Nicole Wootton-Cane
Steph Driver said the Prime Minister’s Government had her “unwavering support” as she announced her departure on Thursday, as reported by The Guardian.
She becomes the next in a string of top aides to depart Downing Street over the last few months.
Ms Driver said: “It has been an honour to work with and advise Keir through opposition and into government. Being part of the team to rebuild and rebrand the Labour Party before securing an historic general election victory is an achievement and experience like no other.
“I’m also proud of what this government has already delivered, and thank the sharp and talented No 10 press team for their hard work and support during my tenure.
“I’m grateful to the Prime Minister for his continued faith in me and my work, and for his offer of an open door in the future. His Labour government has my unwavering support.”
Sir Keir said: “Steph Driver has been a loyal and valued member of my team for almost five years.
“Steph played a leading role in transforming the Labour Party and delivering our historic general election win. I will for ever be grateful for her calm, wise counsel, leadership and humour. I wish her all the best in her undoubted onward success.”
Starmer's head of communications quits No 10, reports say
15:02
,
Nicole Wootton-Cane
Keir Starmer’s head of communications has become the latest exit from Number 10, making the decision to leave after five years at his side.
Steph Driver is the latest in a series of trusted aides to depart from Downing Street, according to reports by The Guardian on Thursday afternoon.
it is understood it was Ms Driver’s decision to leave, with senior figures including the PM reportedly asking her to stay.
Scottish Labour leader refuses to pledge full confidence in Starmer
14:32
,
Nicole Wootton-Cane
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has refused to back the Prime Minister amid growing speculation Andy Burnham may make a bid for the top job.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Mr Sarwar – who has been an outspoken ally of Sir Keir Starmer since he took over as leader – refused to say if he has full confidence in him.
“He has got a really difficult job, we have made significant progress in the last year,” he said.
“If I’ve got one single biggest criticism of a UK Labour Government, it is there have been huge successes, but very few people have been told about them or know about them.”
The Scottish Labour leader said mortgage costs had come down in the past 12 months, while wages have increased, but he said the “average person doesn’t know” that.
Further pushed on whether he has full confidence in the Prime Minister, the Scottish Labour leader said: “I think to be even talking in those terms is frankly ridiculous.
“This is a Prime Minister who won a historic victory, removed the Tories from office, won a huge landslide, and now he has to get on with the day job.”
“The leadership must change direction”: FBU nominates Lucy Powell for Labour deputy leader
14:14
,
Nicole Wootton-Cane
Kate Devlin reports...
The executive council of the Fire Brigades Union has today nominated Lucy Powell for the role of deputy leader of the Labour Party.
The union has expressed support for Lucy Powell’s call to scrap the two child benefit cap and for full delivery of the Employment Rights Bill.The ballot of Labour members will open on 8 October.
Fire Brigades Union general secretary Steve Wright said:"Austerity and authoritarianism are a road to nowhere but misery for working people. If Labour does not deliver the change it promised, this will be a one term government.
"The FBU supports Lucy Powell's call to scrap the two child benefit cap, as well as her support for the full delivery of the Employment Rights Bill. We urge her, and all Labour MPs, to go further - to end austerity and introduce a wealth tax.
"That's why our union is backing Lucy Powell as deputy leader - to send a clear message that the leadership must change direction."
Unite will not nominate a candidate in deputy leadership election
13:56
,
Nicole Wootton-Cane
Unite will not nominate either candidate in Labour’s deputy leadership election, the union announced.
It comes after Unison became the second major union to back Bridget Phillipson earlier on Thursday.
Unite the Union is the largest trade union in the UK and Ireland.
Reeves: Andy Burnham 'focused on delivering change in Greater Manchester'
13:45
,
Nicole Wootton-Cane
Chancellor Rachel Reeves was asked during a ministerial visit if the Prime Minister was under “huge pressure from within his own party” following Andy Burnham’s comments to The Telegraph.
The Chancellor said: “We have seen this film a few times before. When Keir ran for the leadership people said that Labour couldn’t come back from the catastrophic defeat at the 2019 election, then people said he couldn’t overturn that huge Conservative majority.
“He won a landslide victory just over a year ago and Keir and the whole Government are focusing on the change that the country voted for … real change making a difference to people’s lives.
“In the same way that this Government are delivering change, I know that Andy is focused on delivering change in Greater Manchester.”
Andy Burnham shares key aim for Labour amid party leadership speculation
13:36
,
Nicole Wootton-Cane
Andy Burnham has spoken out amid rumours he may be preparing a leadership challenge to Keir Starmer.
Appearing on BBC News, the Greater Manchester mayor said his main goal is to support the government in building a plan to beat Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.
You can watch the interview below...
Reeves says government 'standing by' Jaguar Land Rover's suppliers after cyber attack
13:09
,
Nicole Wootton-Cane
Chancellor Rachel Reeves was asked during a ministerial visit whether the Government was set to step in to help firms which supply Jaguar Land Rover with components.
It comes after the car maker halted production because of a cyber attack on August 31.
The Chancellor responded: “We are working very closely with Jaguar Land Rover, but not just with the company but also with the wider supply chain.
“The Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle was in the West Midlands with Jaguar Land Rover and also with many of their suppliers yesterday. It’s a company I know well, it’s a company the Prime Minister knows well. The National Cyber Security Centre is in with Jaguar Land Rover, and have been since this cyber attack on them.
“The focus is both getting the business back up and running as quickly as possible, but also making sure as a Government we are doing everything we can to stand by the company and the wider supply chain.”
You can read more about the cyber attack below...
Reeves urged to hike gambling taxes to fund axing two-child benefit cap
12:54
,
Athena Stavrou
Rachel Reeves is under growing pressure to raise taxes on gambling firms to cover the cost of lifting the two-child benefit cap.
More than 100 Labour MPs have signed a letter to the Chancellor as she prepares for the autumn Budget, urging her to scrap the limit long blamed for keeping children in poverty.
This could be paid for with a “targeted levy on harmful online gambling products”, which would “support the government’s manifesto pledge to reduce gambling-related harm and enable vital action to alleviate child poverty”, the MPs wrote.
They argued that the UK’s effective tax rate on remote gambling “is significantly lower than in many comparable jurisdictions”.
Why many believe Andy Burnham can harness Manchester’s moment and be a better prime minister than Keir Starmer
12:31
,
Athena Stavrou
The Manchester mayor’s personal ratings are soaring. As Starmer struggles, could the King of the North work really his magic in Westminster once more? Sonia Sodha considers the character and weighs up his chances…
Burnham: Everything is 'in flux' in Westminster
12:12
,
Athena Stavrou
Andy Burnham said he thought that there was a sense in Westminster that “everything is in flux” as he dismissed suggestions he had failed to help improve public transport in Greater Manchester.
The Greater Manchester mayor told BBC Radio Manchester of his current role: “I love everything about this job. I am completely committed to it … and I think what we’ve got to do is to sort of stop the sense in Westminster at times that everything is in flux.”
He said he had not “gone out there, just me on my own” and suggested “people have been getting in touch with me” asking him to run.
A message was read out to him from a listener asking whether the national headlines about his potential pitch for the leadership would distract him from jobs that need doing in Manchester, including improvement to transport.
The message said that “public transport is appalling”.
He replied: “I don’t think that that reflects where most people are. I actually have a lot of people come up to me and say the change we’ve seen in public transport on the buses is quite significant.”
Second major union backs Phillipson
12:08
,
Athena Stavrou
Unison backed Bridget Phillipson to become deputy Labour leader on Thursday, describing her as a “strong, persuasive and passionate” voice at the top of the party.
The decision was taken by the union’s Labour Link committee, made up of representatives from across the country who are also members of the party.
Linda Hobson, chairwoman of Unison’s Labour Link committee, said: “The Labour Party was fortunate to have two such strong candidates standing for deputy leader.
“Bridget will be a strong, persuasive and passionate voice at the top of the party to help steer the change that people voted for.
“She has a clear understanding of unions and will be a powerful voice for Unison members working across public services.”
GMB union backs Bridget Phillipson to become Labour deputy leader
11:55
,
Athena Stavrou
Andy Burnham may have sparked questions over his Labour leadership ambitions this week - but the official contest to be the party’s deputy leader is ongoing.
One of the country’s biggest trade unions has just backed Bridget Phillipson in the race.
Gary Smith, GMB general secretary, said: “We are pleased to nominate Bridget Phillipson for Labour deputy leader.
“We’re proud that she’s been a GMB member for 20 years.
“GMB represents more than 100,000 school support staff.”
Burnham would be 'Labour's Liz Truss', Starmer allies say
11:46
,
Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir Starmer’s allies have criticised Andy Burnham’s vision for how to “turn the country around”, warning it would result in him being Labour’s Liz Truss.
A Labour figure told Bloomberg that Burnham’s policy suggestions are “unserious and irresponsible”, and would risk triggering a bond market rout.
Burnham told The Telegraph that he wanted £40 billion extra borrowing to pay for new council homes and also told the New Statesman that the government must stop being “in hock to the bond market”.
Burnham: I will not speak in code
11:31
,
Athena Stavrou
Andy Burnham said he would not “speak in code” and criticised the Government over reported delays to Northern Powerhouse Rail.
Any potential leadership race would have to be about “more than a personality contest”, the Greater Manchester mayor said, in another indication he is mulling a return to Westminster.
He said he had answered honestly when the Telegraph asked him whether MPs had urged him to run, but that his response to those MPs had been that “it’s not a decision for me” and “that’s a matter for you”.
He declined to explicitly say whether he would launch a leadership bid if he gained enough backing from MPs, saying he was “not in the business of answering hypotheticals”.
Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, he said: “I also said to them it’s got to be about more than a personality contest … it’s got to be about a plan for the country.”
He added that he was “ready to support the Prime Minister in getting that plan together”.
He said he would not “toe the line” or “be quiet” about issues important to Greater Manchester and would “speak directly”.
Watch: Burnham denies asking MPs if he should try to oust Starmer as Labour leader
11:25
,
Athena Stavrou
Burnham dismisses suggestions interventions are hurting Labour
11:08
,
Athena Stavrou
Andy Burnham has dismissed suggestions that his interventions were a disservice to Labour, saying he had been working “behind the scenes” on the Hillsborough law.
Asked what he would say to those who may think his actions were a disservice to the party, the Greater Manchester mayor told BBC Radio Manchester: “A matter of a few days ago I was working hard behind the scenes to land the Hillsborough law getting the support of the Hillsborough families to get us to a point where at the conference in Liverpool the prime minister could say that is delivered.”
Burnham denies sounding out MPs over bid to oust Starmer from No 10
10:45
,
Athena Stavrou
Andy Burnham has denied approaching MPs for support to challenge Sir Kier Starmer’s leadership.
“The reality has been in the ten years I’ve done this job is whenever Westminster has gone into a moment I’ve been drawn into it,” he told the BBC. “I can’t ignore what’s going on down there.
“But I’ve not gone out there me on my own, people have been getting in touch with me and I’ve said to them its not a matter for me.
“This is ultimately a matter for the party in Westminster to decide.
“I am here to support the party in whatever way I can. I’ve always taken that approach to the way I do politics, it remains my approach.
“I’ve said today in black and white I’m here to support the government to make sure we’re connecting with people here and across the country and we’ve got a plan to beat Reform.
“That is what matters in this whole conversation.”
Labour leadership got to be 'more than a personality contest', Burnham says
10:40
,
Athena Stavrou
Andy Burnham has said he told MPs urging him to challenge Starmer as Labour leader that the role has “got to be about more than a personality contest”.
“The Tories were just constantly going through this the latter end of the time they were in government,” he told the BBC.
“It’s got to be about a plan. A proper plan for the country and the proper plan to bear Reform.
“I think that’s the big issue in front of us before you get into any other issues, is the issue that the Labour conference in Liverpool should be completely focused on so that’s where we are this morning.
“I did say in the interview in The Telegraph today that I am ready to support the prime minister and the government in getting that plan together.”
Andy Burnham says leadership up to 'party in Westminster'
10:38
,
Athena Stavrou
Andy Burnham has said he told MPs who told him to challenge Starmer that the question of Labour leadership “was not up to him”
“You know when I left Westminster I took a vow not to speak in code,” speaking to the BBC on Thursday morning Mr Burnham said.
“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 but let me also give an honest explanation of what I said to those MPs. It’s not up to me. It’s not my decision.
“That’s a matter for you, for the party in parliament.”
Andy Burnham made commitment to serve full term as mayor, minister says
10:11
,
Athena Stavrou
Andy Burnham has made a “commitment” to serve his full term as mayor of Greater Manchester, a Cabinet minister has said.
Asked about reports Mr Burnham is plotting a Labour leadership challenge, Housing Secretary Steve Reed told Times Radio: “Andy is playing a great role already.
“He’s the mayor of Greater Manchester and he’s doing an incredible job there, if you look at what they’re doing on homelessness or what they’re doing working with local health services.
“He will keep doing that work, because that is the commitment he gave until the end of his term.”
Mr Reed added: “He’s given a commitment. I’m sure he wouldn’t break it.”
Profile: Could the ‘King of the North’ return to Westminster and nab the top job?
10:03
,
Athena Stavrou
With Keir Starmer floundering in the polls, Labour needs rescuing from the growing threat of Reform. Sean O’Grady asks if Andy Burnham could be its knight in shining armour:
Full story: Labour MPs are privately urging me to challenge Starmer, Andy Burnham says
09:46
,
Athena Stavrou
Minister dismissed Burnham challenge suggestions as 'tittle-tattle'
09:34
,
Athena Stavrou
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.”
Labour peer tells Burnham to 'pipe down'
09:32
,
Athena Stavrou
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.”
Burnham denies plot to return to Westminster
09:29
,
Athena Stavrou
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.
Burnham claims Labour MPs urging him to challenge Starmer
09:24
,
Athena Stavrou
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.”
