Overview

• Andy Burnham confirmed Labour MPs contacted him over the summer urging a leadership bid, declining to rule out a return but saying he is not plotting an immediate move to Westminster.
• The Greater Manchester mayor called for "wholesale change" and outlined policies including higher council tax on expensive homes in the South East, a 50p top income tax rate, tax cuts for lower earners and £40bn for council housebuilding.
• He advocated more public control of energy, water, rail and housing, backed proportional representation and signalled openness to working with the Liberal Democrats and Jeremy Corbyn.
• Burnham accused Downing Street of fostering a "climate of fear" and cast the upcoming Labour conference and the deputy leadership race—where he backs Lucy Powell—as key tests for his agenda.
• Keir Starmer declined to comment on Burnham’s personal ambitions and reiterated his commitment to fiscal rules and “economic stability,” while any Burnham challenge would require a Commons seat and a high MP nomination threshold as Labour trails Reform UK in polls.