Keir Starmer has brushed aside renewed leadership speculation, praising Andy Burnham’s performance and calling on the party to avoid divisive internal briefings.
Burnham’s latest interviews, in which he refused to rule out future leadership ambitions, triggered fresh discussion. His vague responses came at a time when Labour is struggling with the polls and preparing for a challenging budget.
Speaking during his flight to the G20 summit, Starmer shared insights into how he worked closely with Burnham following the recent antisemitic attack in Manchester. He described their coordination as smooth and effective.
Reports that Wes Streeting might be plotting a coup contributed to internal tensions. Starmer urged Labour MPs to refocus their energy on addressing rising living costs and economic strain.
Burnham reiterated that he has not launched any challenge while promoting Manchester’s £1bn growth plan. Yet he would not rule out a shift to national politics in the future.
