Burnham’s backers understood to be lobbying Labour’s NEC who warn against Wes Streeting ‘coronation’
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The rules governing Labour party leadership contests should “not be tweaked” to allow Andy Burnham to run, a member of the party’s National Executive Committee has said.
With the health secretary preparing to launch a leadership challenge against Keir Starmer on Thursday, if he can secure the support of enough MPs to trigger a contest, allies of Burnham have warned against a “coronation” for Wes Streeting as the next prime minister.
Burnham’s backers are understood to be lobbying Labour’s NEC to hold an extended leadership election to give him time to return to parliament, calling for a nomination period long enough for him to win a byelection. Such a move could stretch the contest to about three months, drawing out the chaos facing the party.
