Overview
- A senior minister allied to Andy Burnham told The Independent that Keir Starmer and chief of staff Morgan McSweeney would prevent him from making by-election shortlists.
- Burnham has not launched a leadership bid, says he supports the prime minister, and acknowledges he cannot run without first returning to the Commons.
- Potential routes floated within Labour currently lack vacancies, with Andrew Gwynne and Graham Stringer ruling out resigning and speculation about a St Helens seat remaining unconfirmed.
- Party insiders say the NEC’s grip on selections, widely viewed as aligned with Starmer, is the main hurdle to Burnham even becoming a candidate.
- Polling has shown Burnham outperforming Starmer on leadership appeal, ministers frame next May’s elections as a key test for Labour, and Starmer insists he will lead the party into the next general election.