Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said he has ‘never ruled out’ a return to Parliament as speculation links him with a future Labour leadership bid
Andy Burnham has refused to rule out a return to Parliament, as speculation links him with a future Labour leadership bid.
During an interview with the BBC he said it is his “full intention” to remain Greater Manchester Mayor until May 2028. But he went on to say he “didn’t know” if he would stand as an MP if a seat in his area became available.
Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester the former Health Secretary, who served under Gordon Brown, said: “Westminster’s in flux isn’t it… whenever Westminster’s in flux I get dragged in.” He continued: “I have never ruled out going back to Westminster. And obviously, I do watch what is going on down there.”
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But he attempted to hose down reports that he was lining up a leadership bid, saying: “This is the thing I want to get over to people – it wouldn’t be me sort of saying right I’m going to put myself right out there again. It would have to sort of come in a different direction of people…”
Asked if he would stand in a by-election in Greater Manchester if a seat became available, Mr Burnham said: “I honestly don’t know, it’s a hypothetical question.” And he continued: “If events change, I’m not necessarily going to be stuck religiously in one way of thinking.”
Mr Burnham is among the favourites to take over if Keir Starmer steps down before the general election. The PM has been rocked by the resignation of deputy PM Angela Rayner after it emerged she had mistakenly underpaid £40,000 in stamp duty while she was Housing Secretary.
And questions were asked about his judgement over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as Ambassador to the US. Lord Mandelson was sacked less than a day after the PM defended him in the Commons as new details emerged about his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Mr Burnham is the bookies’ favourite if there was a leadership race, but he would have to be an MP again to be able to stand. Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood are also among the hypotehtical contenders.
He has backed Lucy Powell in the party’s deputy leadership race. She is standing against Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, who is viewed as Downing Street’s preferred candidate.
Ms Powell was sacked as leader of the House of Commons in Mr Starmer’s recent reshuffle. She shot down a BBC question about whether the contest was a proxy battle between the PM and Mr Burnham, saying: “Really, you’ve got two strong women in an open and transparent contest. And instead of talking about the two strong women, everybody’s talking about this being a sort of proxy for war between two men, which, quite honestly, I find kind of sexist.”
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