Burnham says Labour MPs privately urged him to challenge PM Keir Starmer

London — Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, said Friday that Labour MPs have privately urged him to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a development that highlights the leadership pressures within the party as it prepares for its autumn conference. Burnham, who is not currently an MP, told the Telegraph that he is not plotting a return to Westminster but did not rule out leading the party again. "I'm not going to say to you that that hasn't happened, but as I say, it's more a decision for those people than it is for me," he said. The comments come as Labour grapples with internal strains following the resignation of Deputy Leader Angela Rayner and the sacking of Peter Mandelson, who served as the UK’s ambassador to the United States before his departure.

Burnham’s remarks reflect a broader conversation among some MPs about leadership and strategy at a time when Labour faces questions about its direction, its approach to national competitiveness, and its stance on reform. In a separate interview with the New Statesman earlier in the week, Burnham criticized Prime Minister Starmer's approach, saying there needed to be wholesale change to confront what he described as an existential threat to Labour. He said he was not attracted to returning to the old Westminster rhythms but signaled a willingness to play any role that could help the party.

In the Telegraph interview, Burnham floated a set of policy proposals that he said could help turn the country around if Labour wins power. He suggested higher council tax on expensive homes in London and the South East, as well as borrowing to invest in council housing—£40 billion—to expand affordable housing stock. He also proposed targeted tax measures aimed at lifting lower earners and a 50p top tax rate for the highest earners. Taken together, the proposals portray a shift toward redistribution and large-scale public investment as a centerpiece of a potential Labour program.

Burnham’s leadership ambitions are not new. He previously ran for Labour leadership in 2010 and again in 2015, losing to Ed Miliband and Jeremy Corbyn, respectively. His willingness to entertain another bid reflects the current fault lines within the party: a sense among some MPs that Starmer must recalibrate Labour’s strategy to address what they see as an existential challenge to the party’s electoral prospects, even as others within the team emphasize unity and governance over personality-led contest.

The backdrop to Burnham’s remarks is a contentious period for Starmer’s leadership. The party has faced internal debate over how to respond to the Mandelson episode, in which the veteran Labour figure was removed as the UK’s ambassador to the United States following further details about his association with Jeffrey Epstein. The incident has prompted questions about judgment, network influence, and how Labour should conduct itself in government-in-waiting. Burns and others who have called for change argue that the party needs a clearer, more ambitious plan to restore trust with voters and to present a credible path to economic reform. Supporters of Starmer, meanwhile, say the focus should be on delivering party discipline, policy clarity, and a stable reset after recent upheavals.

Ahead of Labour’s autumn conference, Burnham’s comments add a layer of intrigue to the ongoing discussion about leadership and direction. While he cautions that he is not actively pursuing Westminster return, he leaves open the possibility that he could take a leadership role if the party’s direction or leadership circumstances shift. His stance underscores how the party views the moment as pivotal: a chance to articulate a reformist agenda and to reassure voters that Labour can deliver competence, credibility, and a plan for growth if it forms government. The coming weeks are expected to bring further debates among MPs and party members about what shape Labour should take as it positions itself for the next general election and contends with the electoral landscape ahead.

As Labour prepares for its conference, analysts say the leadership question will continue to loom over Starmer’s tenure, particularly if the party experiences further internal disputes or if its polling worsens. Burnham’s willingness to entertain a leadership role—paired with his insistence on wholesale change and a different approach to Westminster politics—could influence the rhetoric of the debate and the strategic choices the party makes as it seeks to present a coherent alternative to the current government. The unfolding dynamic will be watched closely by MPs, members, and political observers as Labour seeks to translate internal conversations into a convincing electoral offer.