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Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, says Labour MPs are privately urging him to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the leadership of the party.

If he accepts that role, the move could reshape Labour’s fortunes ahead of next year’s local elections.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Burnham did not rule out running again for the leadership, saying:

“I stood twice to be leader of the Labour Party. And I think that tells you, doesn’t it?”

The former leadership contender framed his comments in the context of what he described as an “existential” threat to the party. He stressed his willingness to work across factions — including with the Liberal Democrats and Jeremy Corbyn — to “turn the country around.”

With MPs reportedly nudging him privately, Burnham is positioning himself as a credible alternative, capable of uniting a party fractured by controversy.

He would certainly bring a new policy platform, with proposals including:

• Higher council tax on expensive homes in London and the South East,
• £40 billion in borrowing for council house construction,
• Income tax cuts for lower earners, and
• A 50p income tax rate for the highest-paid.

That’s a sharp contrast with Starmer’s current record.

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Leadership under siege

Burnham’s positioning comes at a moment of profound crisis for Starmer. Within a matter of weeks after Parliament returned from its summer recess, his government has been shaken by multiple high-profile resignations:

• Peter Mandelson, appointed as the UK’s ambassador to the United States, was sacked after emails revealed his support for Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted paedophile and financier. Starmer initially defended Mandelson, but then his rapid dismissal of the ambassador left many questioning his judgement.

• Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister, resigned after underpaying £40,000 in stamp duty, sparking questions over internal oversight and financial propriety; and

• Paul Ovenden, a senior aide in Downing Street, resigned following the leak of inappropriate messages about veteran MP Diane Abbott.

These successive crises eroded Starmer’s authority.

Labour Together: the shadow that’s backing Starmer

Underlying the leadership instability is the enduring influence of Labour Together, the think tank that has been central to Starmer’s rise.

Originally led by Morgan McSweeney, with backing from donors including Trevor Chinn and Martin Taylor, Labour Together was explicitly aimed at curtailing Jeremy Corbyn’s influence and ensuring the party’s left wing could not secure leadership.

Leaked documents and Electoral Commission fines — more than £14,000 for mismanaged donations — indicate Labour Together actively shaped polling, messaging, and media narratives.

The organisation ran campaigns smearing Corbyn supporters (primarly with false accusations of anti-Semitism), alternative media outlets (including Vox Political), and internal party dissenters.

Its influence extends to Starmer’s current leadership, with McSweeney now working as his chief of staff – raising questions about integrity, transparency, and the proper declaration of support during his 2020 leadership campaign.

The scandals surrounding Starmer and his inner circle make him vulnerable to scrutiny that Burnham can capitalise on, both politically and morally.

Burnham’s opportunity and vision

Burnham has long been seen as a unifying figure with broad appeal.

Unlike Starmer, whose administration has been embroiled in internal factionalism and high-profile controversies, Burnham’s mayoral record demonstrates popularity and competence.

His willingness to work across ideological divides, while proposing tangible policies to tackle housing, inequality, and taxation, positions him as a credible alternative for Labour members and MPs frustrated by the current turmoil.

The suggestion that MPs are privately urging him to step forward underscores the seriousness of his potential challenge.

The political stakes

The implications of a Burnham leadership bid are profound:

• Labour faces the May 2026 local elections amid plummeting morale and public confidence.

• A leadership vacuum or change could either stabilise the party or risk further fragmentation.

• Starmer’s association with the Mandelson, Rayner, and Ovenden crises, and the Labour Together scandal, exposes him to the kind of scrutiny that could cripple Labour’s electoral prospects.

Burnham would need a Westminster seat to mount a formal challenge, but the momentum is clear.

With Starmer’s credibility under question, a leadership contest is no longer hypothetical.

A defining moment for Labour?

Burnham’s comments are more than idle speculation — they reflect underlying fractures within Labour, strategic opportunities created by Starmer’s missteps, and perhaps most tellingly the urgency with which MPs are searching for alternatives.

Labour is at a crossroads, and the choices are clear: continue under a leader whose authority is fraying, or embrace a figure with credibility, vision, and experience, who could restore unity and confidence.

In this moment, Burnham is the story — and the party’s decision could define its future for years to come.

But never mind those MPs – what do you think? Let’s have a poll:

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