Andy Burnham speaks out after fresh rumours over plot to return to Westminster

Fresh speculation emerged overnight that Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, is seeking a Westminster comeback

Andy Burnham has hit out at reports that he’s plotting a return to Parliament to challenge Keir Starmer after the May elections.

Fresh speculation emerged overnight that the Mayor of Greater Manchester is seeking a Westminster comeback. According to the Sunday Times, his allies have identified a “nailed-on” seat where polling shows he could take on Reform.

But Mr Burnham tweeted this morning: “Quite a lot of rubbish in the papers today. Reminds me why I left Westminster in the first place!”

It comes amid speculation that Keir Starmer could face a challenge to his leadership if Labour suffers a drubbing at elections in Scotland, Wales and local authorities in England in May. Only sitting MPs can run to be Labour leader.

Mr Burnham has long refused to rule out launching another bid to be Labour leader but a return to Westminster would be far from straightforward. Any seat selection would need to be rubberstamped by Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC).

One seat previously talked up is Gorton and Denton, in Greater Manchester, which is held by Andrew Gwynne. Mr Gwynne, who was suspended by Labour over offensive WhatsApps, said on Sunday that he was “not intending to vacate the seat any time soon”.

Labour MP Clive Lewis has previously said he would step aside in Norwich South to make way for Mr Burnham but the seat is a long way from Manchester.

Mr Burnham also irritated ministers and MPs with his antics after fuelling leadership rumours at Labour conference in September.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood this morning fired off a warning over leadership speculation. “Labour Governments don’t come along very often and every moment we have in Government is precious,” she told Sky News

“My advice to all colleagues everywhere would be that it’s a precious privilege and we mustn’t waste a single minute of it. We have a big agenda, we have to crack on with it.”

Asked if that includes those running major cities like Mr Burnham, she said: “Wherever you sit in the Labour family, we all have a role play in helping the Labour Government deliver for the people of this country.”

Mr Starmer told the Mirror last month that he would lead the party to the next election after a damaging briefing war erupted between No10 and Wes Streeting over the Health Secretary’s ambitions.

It comes after Deputy Leader Lucy Powell warned Labour must get behind Mr Starmer or risk gifting new power bases to Nigel Farage. In an article for The Mirrorshe said getting the party’s message across to voters is more difficult when “we hang out or dirty washing for all to see”.

Appealing for unity ahead of the May elections, Ms Powell said: “We must all get behind Keir Starmerso we don’t gift our opponents – especially Reform – councils to run badly, or a power base in Wales or Scotland to run amok.

“We, as Labourowe it to the country to pull together, put the country first and defeat the politics of hate and division. To do that we have to be united ourselves.”