Burnham refuses to rule out challenging Starmer for leadership

Andy Burnham has consistently failed to rule out a Labour leadership bid after an MP announced he would be willing to vacate his seat to allow the Greater Manchester Mayor to return to Westminster.

Burnham has been at the centre of rumours regarding a move against Sir Keir Starmer since Labour's autumn conference. However, under Labour Party rules, he can only challenge for the leadership if he is a sitting MP.

On Wednesday, Clive Lewis, the MP for Norwich South, said he was prepared to step down to allow Burnham to return to the Commons via a by-election.

Burnham was grilled on BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 4's Today programme, and BBC Radio Manchester, but when asked, he would only say he is "fully focused" on his current position as mayor.

The Interviews

BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty pressed Burnham on whether he would see out his full term as mayor, which runs until 2028.

"I don't know what the world holds, but I'm focused on my work here in Greater Manchester," he said. When pushed further, he stated, "I haven't launched any leadership challenge," before adding: "I'm not going to sit here this morning and rule out what might or will not happen in the future. I don't know what the future will look like."

Burnham chastised journalists for speculating, claiming he is "constantly answering hypothetical questions" and that Westminster politicians are "consistently questioning rather than presenting solutions."

Any leadership challenge requires a candidate to be an MP and secure the support of at least 80 MPs (20% of the Parliamentary Labour Party) to run against the incumbent. Two Manchester MPs, Andrew Gwynne and Graham Stringer, had previously ruled out resigning their seats to allow Burnham to stand.

The Offer from Clive Lewis

Clive Lewis told the BBC's Politics Live on Wednesday that stepping aside for Burnham was "a question I've asked myself," adding that the answer would be "yes."

However, the MP, who has represented Norwich South for ten years, later told The Sun he had "no plans to stand down" and was merely answering a "hypothetical question." Lewis had suggested to Channel 4 News that if Sir Keir's position as Prime Minister became "untenable," Burnham should have the opportunity to "step up."

On the Today programme, host Emma Barnett asked Burnham whether he would take Lewis up on his offer of vacating a seat. He would only say, "I appreciate the help," and reiterated that he was focusing on his current work.

'You Just Don't Know'

On BBC Radio Manchester, host Mike Sweeney challenged him: "You could put this to bed now [by saying] 'I have no intention whatsoever of returning to Parliament'—and that isn't a statement made by you?"

"I can't make a protest because I'm not a Member of Parliament," Burnham replied. "I'm also going to say I don't know what the future holds."

He added: "You just don't know, do you? No one goes into a cubicle and speculates about their own future."

Burnham served as a cabinet and shadow cabinet minister under successive Labour leaders and made two unsuccessful leadership bids before becoming Mayor of Greater Manchester in 2017.

Clive Lewis first won his seat in 2015, and last year he increased his majority to more than 13,000. However, if he were to resign, any would-be successor would first have to win a selection contest before a by-election could be held.