Andy Burnham vows to stand in any potential Labour leadership contest

Despite widespread assumption he would challenge Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister if he returns to the House of Commons, the Greater Manchester mayor made the official announcement during a by-election special of BBC Question Time on Thursday evening.

So far, Sir Keir has defied repeated calls for him to resign after Labour’s drubbing at the Scottish, Welsh and English local elections last month - but so far, no formal challenge against him has been launched.

However, a by-election will now be held on June 18 after Josh Simons MP stepped down to allow Mr Burnham to return to Westminster and mount a leadership bid.

Speaking on BBC Question Time, Mr Burnham said: “I can’t do anything unless I’m lucky enough to get the support of people here.

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“But if I get your support, I would seek to represent you at the highest possible level and give this constituency maximum power and influence.

“I think Wes Streeting seems to have launched a leadership contest, so if that is running I would seek to join it, but I’d have to persuade members of the parliamentary Labour Party to do the same.”

A leadership contest is triggered once a challenger has 81 MPs backing them. Sir Keir would automatically be a candidate in any contest.

Mr Streeting, who resigned as the UK health secretary in the wake of the elections, has confirmed he will enter any leadership contest, but so far has not triggered one himself.

He has encouraged people to back Mr Burnham in the Makerfield by-election as he wants a “proper contest with the best candidates on the field”.

In response to Mr Burnham’s comments, Number 10 said: “With Keir Starmer’s leadership, this Labour government is supporting people with the cost-of-living, cutting NHS waiting lists, restoring control of our borders and lifting half a million children out of poverty.

“The country expects us to focus on governing and to deliver change for hard-working people, not get distracted by Westminster debates.

“The Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader and it has not been triggered.

“The Prime Minister will not walk away from the mandate he was given just two years ago to build a stronger, fairer Britain.”

There are a total of 14 candidates standing in the Makerfield by-election on June 18, but it is expected to be a two-horse race between Mr Burnham and Reform UK’s candidate Councillor Robert Kenyon.

Polling on Thursday evening suggested Mr Burnham is on course to win the by-election with 49 per cent of the vote, compared to Reform UK in second on 39 per cent.

There will be two Scottish by-elections on the same day - Aberdeen South and Arbroath and Broughty Ferry - after Stephen Flynn and Stephen Gethins stood down from Westminster after winning seats in Holyrood.