Andy Burnham has set out his stall with the clearest signal yet that he could mount a challenge to Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester said MPs had privately urged him to step forward and refused to rule out a Westminster return before next May’s local elections.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Burnham outlined a manifesto he claims would “turn the country around” – including a mansion tax on expensive homes in London and the South East, £40billion of borrowing to build council housing, income tax cuts for low earners, and a restored 50p rate for the highest-paid.
He criticised Starmer directly, warning that Number 10 had created a “climate of fear” among MPs and was fostering “alienation and demoralisation” inside Labour.
Polling suggests Burnham is more popular than the Prime Minister with both party members and the wider public, fuelling speculation over a leadership bid.
While insisting he is “not plotting”, Burnham acknowledged that MPs had been in touch over the summer, adding that his previous leadership bids “tell you” he still harbours ambition.
To launch a formal challenge he would need to resign as mayor, secure a Westminster seat, and win the backing of at least 80 Labour MPs.