UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has tried to ward off an expected leadership challenge by saying he wants would-be rival Andy Burnham to play "a big role" in his Labour government.

Mr Burnham hopes to win Thursday’s Makerfield by-election and could then launch a campaign to replace Sir Keir as prime minister and Labour leader

Speaking from the G7 summit amid growing threats to his leadership, Sir Keir Starmer described Andy Burnham as a ‘huge asset to our party and our movement’

Veteran UK Labour politician Andy Burnham won a historic by-election on Friday, securing a parliamentary seat and clearing the way for a widely expected leadership challenge…