Andy Burnham is said to have taken advice from former top civil servant Sue Gray on how he may form a Labour government in the future, as talk of a Labour leadership contest continues to ramp up.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester, who is widely believed to have his eyes on No 10, reportedly sought advice from Sir Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff on how to manage a transition into Downing Street.
The Guardian reported that he and Lady Gray discussed how a future government could be formed, indicating Mr Burnham’s chances of succession are being taken seriously by senior figures in the Labour Party.
Lady Gray, who led the inquiry into the ‘Partygate’ scandal in December 2021, resigned from Downing Street in 2024 after what she called “intense commentary” around her role amid a power struggle between herself and Morgan McSweeney.Concerns were also raised when it was revealed she was paid more as chief of staff than the prime minister.
Mr Burnham is running in the Makerfield by-election, a crucial contest which could decide the future of the Labour Party and government.
If victorious, the Manchester mayor is likely to use his return to Parliament as an opportunity to trigger a leadership contest against Sir Keir, which polls suggest he would win.
The leadership chatter has exposed deep splits within the Labour Party, throwing Sir Keir’s government into chaos.
A senior ally of the prime minister, his chief secretary Darren Jones, warned the party on Sunday against playing “fantasy politics” which would distract from the big challenges in the country.
He told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: “There’s a lot of fantasy politics going on right now inside the Labour Party… in terms of who is up, who is down, who will be in what position.”
He added that “Britain is poorer and weaker than it needs to be”, and said: “Irrespective of individual ambitions from any of my colleagues, the big questions the country faces are still the big questions the country faces.
“There’s no magic answer to any of them, because if there was we would have implemented it.”
Mr Jones did however call Mr Burnham “a brilliant politician”, and said he would campaign for him in Makerfield.
Sir Keir has vowed to stay on as Labour leader despite calls to resign from almost 100 of his own MPs in the wake of disastrous local election results earlier this month.
Splits within the cabinet have been on full display, after the health secretary, Wes Streeting, dramatically resigned following days of intense speculation.
The prime minister has insisted he will fight any official challenge that is launched against him, and defended his record over the weekend, saying “our plan is working” and that he intends to “keep pushing forward”.
Allies of Mr Burnham have suggested he may not launch a bid for the party leadership immediately if he is successful in his attempt to return to Parliament in the June 18 contest.
But Mr Streeting has openly talked about launching a campaign to oust Sir Keir.
The MP and former health secretary told reporters on Friday that he held off triggering a leadership race to give Mr Burnham time to tread a path back into the Commons.
