Burnham: I've no intention of abandoning city region

MAYOR CLARIFIES COMMENTS AFTER SUGGESTING MPS HAD BACKED HIM TO CHALLENGE STARMER

- By ETHAN DAVIES

ANDY Burnham has given an update on speculation he will challenge Keir Starmer for leadership of the Labour Party.

Rumours have been swirling that the mayor is being lined up to take over as Prime Minister in the face of opinion polls putting Reform nine points ahead of Labour.

He fuelled the talk in a New Statesman interview published earlier this week by criticising the government's approach, saying the party needs to find 'our plan to turn the country around'.

Speculation intensified as Mr Burnham confirmed in a Telegraph interview on Wednesday that he was approached by Labour MPs about succeeding Keir Starmer over the summer.