Darren Jones has insisted he is not considering a run for the Labour leadership following speculation that he is plotting a move to replace Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader and prime minister.
The prime minister’s key lieutenant and chief secretary has in recent weeks been among those tipped to be considering a run for the top job, as Sir Keir’s time in Downing Street appears to be coming to an end.
With Andy Burnham set to be the overwhelming favourite to replace Sir Keir if he wins the Makerfield by-election against a strong challenge from Reform, centrists in the party have been looking for a Starmer ally to run against him.
Even if Mr Burnham fails to return to parliament, a challenge has all but been confirmed by former health secretary Wes Streeting after he resigned from the government last month, and former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner – who rejected a return to Sir Keir’s top team – is also expected to run.
But a source close to Mr Jones insisted that the Starmer loyalist is not planning on running for the top job.
The source said: “This is all unfounded speculation – there is no such list or pitch and Darren thinks that, after 14 years in the wilderness, everyone should get on with making the most of being in government.”
Speculation had been renewed by an article in The Times which suggested the 39-year-old is preparing a bid having previously been Rachel Reeves’ deputy in the Treasury.
There are claims that he has a spreadsheet tracking support for different candidates, a claim sources close to the minister have described as “mischief-making”.
Last month, PoliticsHome also revealed that Mr Jones was “sounding out support”.
One ally, Gower MP Tonia Antoniazzi, said: “I think there’s a number of candidates that would be acceptable to the country. I actually think you were listening to one of them earlier,” she said.
“I think Darren Jones is a very clever, intelligent individual who, when he was chair of a select committee, showed great leadership. He’s done an excellent job in supporting the prime minister as his chief secretary.”
Around 100 MPs have called on Sir Keir to go as the pressure from the Peter Mandelson scandal mounts and the prime minister’s authority has slipped away over a series of rebellions and U-turns on issues like scrapping winter fuel for pensioners and reducing welfare.
There are fears among Labour MPs that without a centrist continuity candidate the party could tear itself apart in a left right battle among its factions.
Previously defence secretary John Healey has been suggested as a continuity candidate while energy secretary Ed Miliband has also been positioning himself for a possible leadership bid.
