Starmer set to block return of Burnham to parliament

The PM would stop Burnham from entering any shortlists to become an MP, says minister (PA)

- DAVID MADDOX POLITICAL EDITOR

Sir Keir Starmer and his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney would block Andy Burnham from getting on the shortlist of potential candidates for a parliamentary seat, scuppering any potential leadership challenge, a senior minister has claimed.

The Greater Manchester mayor has been accused privately by allies of "overplaying his hand" in positioning himself as a potential replacement for Sir Keir as leader of the Labour Party.

Despite a YouGov poll of Labour voters suggesting he would be a more popular prime minister than Sir Keir, by 33 points to 28, his hopes that the party conference in Liverpool would be a launchpad for any leadership bid fell flat this week.

He left before Sir Keir’s speech began, claiming he did not want to upstage the prime minister, and even withdrew from a fringe meeting where he was due to share a platform with rebel Labour MPs.

But, even if the groundswell of support had given him momentum, he would need to return to Westminster as an MP via a by-election in order to have a shot at the leadership.