The man to replace Starmer? Andy Burnham reveals Labour MPs are 'begging' him to step up

Andy Burnham has disclosed that parliamentarians are privately urging him to launch a bid against Sir Keir Starmer for control of the Labour Party.

In his clearest indication to date that a return to Westminster politics remains on his agenda, the Greater Manchester Mayor declined to rule out confronting the Prime Minister before May's council elections.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Mr Burnham unveiled an extensive agenda of reforms he insisted would "turn the country around", incorporating higher council tax on expensive homes in London and the South East, £40bn of borrowing to build council houses, income tax cuts for lower earners, as well as a 50p rate for the highest-paid. The news emerges as Keir Starmer must do this one thing to save his skin as PM.

Burnham attacks Starmer's leadership style

The mayor also launched a direct assault on Sir Keir, warning that Number 10 had created a "climate of fear" among MPs, and accused his administration of creating "alienation and demoralisation" within the party.

Mr Burnham's intervention arrives amid persistent speculation that he seeks a Westminster seat to challenge Sir Keir's authority. Surveys demonstrate his superior popularity compared to the Prime Minister among both Labour supporters and the general public.

During Wednesday's questioning, he declined to exclude another leadership attempt, describing it as "for other people in Westminster to make a decision about", though he maintained he was not "plotting to get back".

MPs secretly backing leadership bid

Pressed on whether parliamentarians had urged his candidacy, he confirmed: "People have contacted me throughout the summer - yeah.

"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."

Mr Burnham additionally suggested his prime ministerial aspirations remained alive. He noted: "I stood twice to be leader of the Labour Party. And I think that tells you, doesn't it?"

Several parliamentarians confirmed to The Telegraph their willingness to support a third Burnham leadership attempt, after his previous losses to Ed Miliband in 2010 and Jeremy Corbyn in 2015.

Growing parliamentary support emerges

One MP declared he "would have a caucus of support" should he stand, while another insisted: "If Andy's going to go, he's got to come out. He's got to stop playing footsie with the Labour Party and say that the current man's not up to it."

Any leadership challenge against Sir Keir would require Mr Burnham to abandon his mayoral role, win a parliamentary constituency via by-election, and secure backing from no fewer than 80 Labour MPs.

When asked to exclude a leadership challenge before next May's local contests, where Labour anticipates significant defeats, he responded: "Life seems to be changing, and I don't know what is the will of people in Westminster... I am at the Prime Minister's disposal to help."

Burnham distances himself from Starmer

Mr Burnham, who has maintained no contact with Sir Keir since May, raised eyebrows in Labour circles this month by backing the launch of Mainstream, an organisation for party members designed to put pressure on the Government to take a more Left-wing stance on some issues.

His schedule also includes multiple appearances at Labour's upcoming party conference, where he will present a "plan for the country and a plan to beat Reform".

Opens door to unlikely alliances

A separate New Statesman interview on Wednesday saw Mr Burnham open the door to working with the Liberal Democrats and Jeremy Corbyn, the hard-Left former Labour leader who has since been expelled from the party.

Mr Burnham also told the magazine that he would be prepared to defy market resistance to Labour's spending plans.

His comments could raise fears of a repeat of the crisis that followed Liz Truss's tax cuts, as he stated: "We've got to get beyond this thing of being in hock to the bond markets."