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Lisa Nandy has sensationally claimed Labour’s warring factions are not desperately trying to seize power. The Culture Secretary repeatedly insisted ministers must be allowed to get on with the job of governing the country.

But she effectively conceded that the Prime Minister will make “his own decision” on whether to fight a leadership battle against Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting. And she claimed Labour’s leadership race was “froth and nonsense” – before admitting she was out campaigning with Mr Burnham in Makerfield on Saturday. Sky News presenter Sir Trevor Phillips blasted: “I wish we could talk about issues of substance, but your mates keep resigning.”

He added: “I don’t get it, Lisa Nandy. Why are you out on the doors with Andy Burnham? Why aren’t you just telling him ‘what are you doing mate?’ You’re still telling me we shouldn’t be having all this competition for a new leader and we shouldn’t be talking about it.”

Ms Nandy responded: “Westminster’s loss was Manchester’s gain. He’s my mayor, and he’s done a terrific job here.

“I’m knocking on doors with the entire Labour movement because there’s a by-election and I want to make sure we get a Labour MP elected to take a fight to the system.”

Sir Trevor said: “What is your point of view here? Is it that you think this is all a terrible mistake, there shouldn’t be a by-election, should be getting on with the job, or is it that you think Andy Burnham should give up Manchester and come back to Westminster? And he’s been pretty clear that that is so he can become leader. Just be clear with us.”

Ms Nandy admitted: “I want Andy to return to Parliament. I want voices from towns like mine to be heard in Westminster.”

Ms Nandy was asked on Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips whether she believed Sir Keir Starmer would resign as Prime Minister by the summer holidays.

The Culture Secretary replied: “No, I don’t.

“I have spoken to the Prime Minister several times over the last week and he was very clear with the Cabinet on Tuesday that if people want to challenge him there is a process for doing that, there is a way to trigger a leadership contest, to be leader of the Labour Party and to succeed him as Prime Minister.

“Nobody has done that yet, despite the absolute feverish speculation.

“Every hour on the hour for the last week I’ve read that Wes Streeting was about to launch a challenge, that Andy Burnham was about to contest every seat in Greater Manchester, including my own, that Angela Rayner was written off, that Angela Rayner was now challenging, and most of it has turned out to be just froth and nonsense.

“We’ve got to get on with the job.”

And both Mr Streeting and Mr Burnham have admitted they will betray the Brexit vote.

But Ms Nandy insisted: “I like and respect Wes a lot.

“The Government he was part of until recently has been trying to take a far more pragmatic approach to bringing us closer to Europe … rather than reopening the Brexit wars and going back around that track that did the country such a disservice.

“It’s a bit odd, to be honest. If rejoining the EU is the answer to what we were just told loud and clear by the country … parts of the country like mine, where we lost 25 out of 25 wards, 24 of them to Reform.

“If rejoining the EU is the answer, then essentially what we’re saying to people is life was fine in 2015. We just need to go back there.

“I know Wes is coming up to campaign in the by-election quite soon. He will hear loud and clear from people that is absolutely not the case.”