I've been told to challenge Starmer, says Andy Burnham

Andy Burnham has claimed Labour MPs are privately urging him to challenge the prime minister, as he unveiled his "plan to turn the country around".

The mayor of Greater Manchester, who served in Gordon Brown's cabinet, has been tipped to make a return to Westminster. Speculation has ramped up amid a rough start to the new parliamentary term for the government, with Sir Keir Starmer forced into a cabinet reshuffle and the sacking of his ambassador to the US.

Speaking to The Telegraph and the New Statesman, Mr Burnham has further fuelled rumours that he is plotting another leadership challenge. He lost to Ed Miliband in 2010 and Jeremy Corbyn in 2015.

"People have contacted me throughout the summer - yeah," the former minister told The Telegraph when asked if Labour MPs had encouraged him to try again. "I'm not going to say to you that that hasn't happened.

"But as I say, it's more a decision for those people than it is for me." He added: "I stood twice to be leader of the Labour Party. And I think that tells you, doesn't it?" Speaking on a phone-in with BBC Radio Manchester, Mr Burnham said he just "gave an honest answer" and added he told MPs urging him to challenge Sir Keir "it's not up to me, that's a matter for you, the party in parliament" - then said there has to be a "proper plan for the country and a proper plan to beat Reform".

He also said: "I have no intention of just abandoning what we're trying to build here but I gave an honest answer and it seems to me the Westminster world can't deal with that." New Housing Secretary Steve Reed suggested to Sky News Mr Burnham is taking "pot shots" at Sir Keir, who he said "picked this party up off the floor and led us to a record breaking general election victory". He said Mr Burnham is doing a "great job" as a mayor but defended the PM's record.

'Climate of fear' Mr Burnham refused to rule out making a challenge before May 2026, widely seen as the point at which some Labour MPs feel Sir Keir's time could be up - if the party does badly in the next set of local elections. They include London, while the Scottish and Welsh parliaments are also up for grabs.

In a direct criticism of Sir Keir, Mr Burnham said Number 10 had created a "climate of fear" among MPs and created "alienation and demoralisation" within the party. The government has already run up against its own backbenchers over issues including welfare cuts, the winter fuel payment changes, and the two-child benefit cap.

A debate continues to rage on tax ahead of the budget, with the chancellor being told significant increases are needed. Labour remain behind Reform UK in the polls, having seen their popularity plummet since the 2024 general election, while the prime minister is also unpopular with the public.

Despite his previous failed leadership challenges, Mr Burnham has rebuilt his image as a mayor in Manchester. He notably sparred with Boris Johnson during the pandemic, and became known as the "King in the North".

Burnham's manifesto Mr Burnham has set out a raft of policies he said would "turn the country around.