Burnham’s Labour will ‘wear our hearts on our sleeve more’, says Lisa Nandy in swipe at Keir Starmer

Lisa Nandy, an ally of the prime ministerial candidate, said Andy Burnham’s Labor Party would “carry more of our hearts” in an apparent swipe at Sir Keir Starmer, who has been criticized for failing to connect with voters.

Ms Nandy, the culture minister, said the Burnham government would also be “faster and bolder” because she was “willing to think very differently about how we deliver change”.

He told the BBC’s Today programme: “I think people will see that we are tackling any system that stands in the way of them living a better life.”

“And I think that’s a really important thing right now, at a time when trust in the power of government to change people’s lives is so weak.”

But he insisted the ‘Number 10 for the North’ plans were about more than just moving officials to Manchester.

He acknowledged that the idea had “attracted a lot of interest” but said it was really about “shifting the center of gravity in the country so that all parts of the country can be seen, heard and able to contribute.”

Sir Keir has been repeatedly criticized for failing to present a coherent narrative explaining what his government wants to achieve and for showing no emotion.

He eventually announced his resignation in an emotional speech outside Downing Street, breaking down in tears as he thanked his family.

Mr Burnham has almost been confirmed as the country’s new Prime Minister after gaining the support of more than 300 Labor MPs, ruling out the possibility of a rival entering the race to replace Sir Keir.

This is a developing news story, more below…