Burnham latest: Labour MPs ‘consider leadership challenge’ to halt his coronation to replace Starmer as PM

Andy Burnham will give a major speech next week to set out key aspects of current Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ economic policy, including confirmation she will stick to the rules for managing the public finances.

Mr Burnham will begin laying out his policy platform in his speech next week, promising economic growth and adherence to Labour’s current fiscal rules.

Discussions are also said to be taking place over who will be in the Cabinet, with Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood being put forward as potential candidates to replace Ms Reeves as chancellor.

But Mr Burnham’s allies said no work had been awarded and no deals had been made as of Monday evening.

Ms. Reeves’s successor will adhere to the rules she set, which aim to restrict borrowing and pay for day-to-day expenses from tax revenues by the end of the decade.

Mr Burnham knows he must reassure the City of London about its economic plans, having previously caused alarm by saying “we must get beyond this issue of being hostage to the bond markets”.

Cabinet minister Nick Thomas-Symonds has backed Andy Burnham for the Labor leadership and suggested a contest to replace Sir Keir Starmer would not be in the national interest.

He told Sky News: “I’m backing Andy Burnham to replace Keir. First of all, I think we have a delivery job to do in the second half of Parliament. I think Andy has shown comprehensively that he can run that delivery job as mayor of Greater Manchester.”

“But secondly there is the question of leading us to the next general election and defeating Reformation and I think Andy Burnham has shown comprehensively at Makerfield that he can do that, we have seen him do that in an election.

“That’s why I’m backing Andy Burnham and, yes, I’m looking for a quick transition.”

Asked if this meant avoiding a contest, he said: “I just think we need to weigh up what is in the country’s interests. I am of the view that this should be a rapid transition, but of course I also understand that my colleagues have difficult decisions to make.”

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said he did not support calls for a general election, calling for greater stability.

“I actually think people want to give the new prime minister a chance,” he said.

“People will be impatient for change.”

Mr Davey added that the next prime minister “has a very short window of time in which people will give him a chance”.

The Liberal Democrat leader explains: “If it fails and Europe doesn’t comply with what we say on, say, social care or defence, I think people will then demand a general election.”

At least two senior Labor MPs are considering putting their names forward in the leadership contest to block Andy Burnham’s direct coronation, the BBC reports.

Former defense secretary Al Carns is still weighing whether to run, while Sir Keir Starmer’s principal secretary Darren Jones has yet to decide whether to put his name in the hat.

Some ministers are increasingly uneasy about the prospect of the former Manchester mayor becoming prime minister when his policies have not yet been tested by his party.

Mr Burnham is likely to be ranked 10th as early as July 17, the day after they are nominated for the top job.

Nominations for Prime Minister will begin on July 9 and will be sent by the summer holidays on July 16; Each candidate must receive the support of at least 81 MPs.

Andy Burnham has said calling a general election if he becomes the next prime minister following Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation would be “clearing a few hurdles”.

When he arrived in London on Monday afternoon, Mr Burnham was asked about comments he made when Rishi Sunak became prime minister and called a general election.

Asked if he would now call an election, the new Labor MP for Makerfield said: “You’re jumping through a lot of hoops.”

The former mayor of Greater Manchester added that his “priority” for the day was to be officially sworn in as an MP, adding: “It is very sad for me to leave Greater Manchester today. People have been wonderful to me over the last few years. I have loved every minute of the role. I hope I leave Manchester in a better place.”