Burnham latest: Labour MPs ‘consider leadership challenge’ to halt his coronation to replace Starmer as PM

In other news, northern leaders have accused Brexit leaders of breaking promises after new figures revealed London is receiving more money than any other UK region.

A key part of the campaign to leave the EU was to spread wealth across the UK with Boris Johnson, who signed the withdrawal agreement six years ago, promising increased investment, better transport and raised living standards as part of the Tories’ post-Brexit policy.

Read the full article from our reporter Alex Ross here:

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said if Andy Burnham becomes prime minister next month “he’ll do so with no mandate whatsoever” and the public “deserve a vote”.

Mr Farage said Sir Keir Starmer “left yesterday with no dignity at all”, adding “I found he became petulant, aggressive, rude, insulting”.

Discussing Mr Burnham, the Reform UK leader told GB News: “Politicians have to take positions.

“We, at the moment, have almost no idea where this man stands on anything, he’s flipped and flopped in the last month more than Keir Starmer has in the last two years.”

Mr Farage added: “I’m hoping that Al Carns, or someone like that stands against him, so that over the course of a summer we can actually see what he stands for. At the moment, we haven’t got a clue.

“If he does become prime minister on July 17th, he’ll do so with no mandate whatsoever.

“I think the public are sick to death of the game of musical chairs that’s going on in Downing Street and deserve a vote.”

The Reform UK leader added that his party “can be ready very, very quickly” for a general election.

A cabinet meeting is set to begin at 9am, the first time all senior Labour MPs will be gathered since Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation.

The outgoing prime minister will chair the meeting and will continue to do so until a new leader has been chosen.

Among the first to arrive in his chief secretary Darren Jones, who has reportedly not ruled out his own leadership bid.

Andy Burnham is set to make a major speech next week to set out key aspects of his economic policy, including confirmation he will stick to the current Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ rules for managing the public finances.

Mr Burnham will begin to set out his policy platform, pledging economic growth and a commitment to Labour’s existing fiscal rules in a speech next week.

Talks are also said to be taking place about who will sit in his Cabinet, with Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood both tipped as potential candidates to replace Ms Reeves as chancellor.

But Mr Burnham’s allies said no jobs had been given and no deals had been made as of Monday evening.

Ms Reeves’ successor would be bound by the rules she set, which aim to restrict borrowing and pay for day-to-day spending out of tax revenues by the end of the decade.

Mr Burnham knows he has to reassure the City of London about his economic plans, having previously caused alarm by saying “we’ve got to get beyond this thing of being in hock to the bond markets”.

Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds backed Andy Burnham for the Labour leadership and suggested a contest to replace Sir Keir Starmer would not be in the national interest.

He told Sky News: “I am backing Andy Burnham to succeed Keir. I think, first of all, we have a job of delivery to do in the second half of the Parliament. I think he has shown, Andy, comprehensively as the mayor of Greater Manchester, that he can carry out that job of delivery.

“But secondly, there is the question about leading us into the next general election and defeating Reform and I think Andy Burnham has just shown comprehensively in Makerfield that he can do that, we’ve seen him do it in an election.

“So I’m backing Andy Burnham and, yes, looking for a swift transition.”

Asked if that meant he wanted to avoid a contest, he said: “I just think we have to weigh up what is in the best interests of the country. I am of the view that it needs to be a swift transition, but of course I understand colleagues have difficult decisions to make.”

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has said that he doesn’t support calls for a general election, as he calls for greater stability.

“I think actually people want to give the new prime minister a chance,” he said.

“People will be impatient for change.”

Mr Davey added that who ever becomes the new prime minister “has got a very short window where people will give him a chance”.

The Lib Dem leader explains: “If he fails, and he for example doesn’t follow what we’ve been saying on Europe or social care or defence, I think people will then demand a general election.”

At least two senior Labour MPs are considering putting their names forward in a leadership contest, to prevent a straight coronation of Andy Burnham, the BBC has reported.

Former defence minister Al Carns is still debating whether to run, while Sir Keir Starmer’s chief secretary Darren Jones is also yet to decide whether to put his name in hat.

A number of ministers are increasingly uncomfortable with the prospect of the former Greater Manchester mayor becoming prime minister when his policies are yet to be tested by his party.

It is looking likely that Mr Burnham could in No10 as early as 17 July, the day after nominations for the top job close.

Nominations for prime minister open on 9 July and send by the summer recess of 16 July, with candidates needing to gain the support of at least 81 MPs each.

Andy Burnham said it would be “jumping several hurdles ahead” to call a general election should he become the next prime minister following Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation.

As he arrived in London on Monday afternoon, Mr Burnham was asked about comments he made when Rishi Sunak became prime minister, when he called for a general election.

Asked if he would now call an election, the new Labour MP for Makerfield said: “You’re jumping several hurdles ahead there.”

The former mayor of Greater Manchester added that his “priority” for the day was to officially swear in as an MP, adding: “It’s been very kind of sad for me today to leave Greater Manchester. The people have been brilliant to me over the last few years. I’ve loved every minute of the role. I hope I leave Manchester in a better place.”