Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAndy Burnham is expected to be unveiled as the new Labour leader on 17 July and replace Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister on 20 July, with no other candidates anticipated to be nominated. Louise Haigh, Burnham's chief ally, revealed in an interview that he had been plotting and planning to take over from Sir Keir Starmer for at least the past year. Haigh also exposed a 'sexist' culture within the Starmer government, claiming that leading women, including herself, Angela Rayner, Bridget Phillipson, and Lisa Nandy, were targeted by a 'cabal of men' with 'dreadful briefings' and a 'boys' club' mentality. She accused Sir Keir's administration of attempting to 'knock my character down' after her forced resignation, stating that he had not spoken to her since and that she had previously disclosed her past conviction to him while Labour was in opposition. Haigh indicated that Burnham is already working to shift away from the 'boys' club' culture that several female MPs have criticised within Sir Keir's Downing Street operation. In fullBurnham’s secret plot to get to No 10More bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

Veteran politician Andy Burnham will take another step towards becoming the UK's next prime minister when nominations to replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader formally open on…

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Chief ally Louise Haigh says the PM-in-waiting has been plotting for more than 12 months – as she calls out sexism against women at the top