Andy Burnham’s allies want him in Downing Street by September – and will be demanding Sir Keir Starmer name his exit date within days.
They are warning that if the Prime Minister has not announced his departure before the Greater Manchester mayoralty by-election, he could cost the party its northern power base.
It comes as Burnham stormed the Makerfield by-election overnight, taking 24,927 votes to brush aside Reform’s Robert Kenyon on 15,696 – a result his supporters are already calling the first step of his march to No 10.
Shorts
His return to the Commons hands him the platform to challenge Starmer for the Labour leadership and his allies claim he already has the required support to trigger a formal contest if Starmer doesn’t go quietly.
