Don't rock Labour's boat, Lammy warns Burnham

David Lammy has warned Andy Burnham and others not to “rock the boat” by making moves to challenge Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership of the Labour Party.

- KATE DEVLIN DAVID MADDOX

It comes as the mayor of Greater Manchester faces a deadline of 5pm today to throw his hat in the race to become Labour's candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

As a directly elected mayor he must seek the express permission of Labour's ruling body to stand, as vacating his current job would also trigger an election.

Calling the mayor of Greater Manchester “a dear friend”, the deputy prime minister said he would not give him advice, amid speculation he will seek a Commons comeback by standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election, but cautioned that parties that “air their dirty linen in public ... usually are a huge turnoff to the electorate”.

He said any change of leader would “probably” mean Labour, which is currently trailing Nigel Farage's Reform UK in the polls, would be forced to call an early election.

His comments come amid threats from Labour backbenchers that Sir Keir “will face a severe backlash” that could “hasten his departure” if he tries to block Mr Burnham from running in the upcoming by-election in his political backyard.