Powell hits out at 'sexist' talk of Burnham comeback

Labour deputy leadership candidate Lucy Powell has dubbed fevered speculation around the possible return of Andy Burnham kind of sexist”.

- MILLIE COOKE

As the crisis facing Sir Keir Starmer continues to grow, there have been mounting calls from Labour backbenchers for the Greater Manchester mayor to return to Westminster politics and launch a leadership bid.

However, asked about the possibility of such a return, Ms Powell said the conversation is "just a classic Westminster bubble obsession".

She added: "You've got two strong women in an open and transparent contest. And instead of talking about the two strong women, everybody's talking about this being a sort of proxy war between two men, which, quite honestly, I find kind of sexist."

Sir Keir is facing growing questions over his leadership of the Labour Party and the country after a disastrous fortnight that saw the resignation of Angela Rayner and the sacking of Peter Mandelson.

The PM is now facing increasing demands to explain what he knew and when over Lord Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and defend his decision to appoint the Labour grandee, forced to resign from government twice already.