𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Andy Burnham could face a challenge from a left-wing MP in a future Labour leadership contest. MPs on the left of the party are said to be concerned that the Greater Manchester Mayor, who is making a bid to return to Westminster with the Makerfield by-election, is abandoning progressive positions to broaden his appeal.

Mr Burnham has made a string of U-turns including supporting Shabana Mahmood’s immigration reforms, rowing back on reversing Brexit and backing new official guidance on single-sex spaces. Names mooted include Richard Burgon, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Olivia Blake and Clive Lewis but none have said they want to stand.

One MP on the left of the party told The Times: “A lot of us are increasingly frustrated that he’s being portrayed as the saviour of the left when he’s nothing of the sort. There have been discussions about whether we put up a candidate to try to force him into more progressive positions.”

But a Labour source said that the prospect of a Corbynite entering a contest would “concentrate minds” among MPs.

They said the problem was “not that someone like Burgon wins, it’s that the whole debate shifts on to his territory”.

It comes as Sir Keir Starmer is clinging to power in the wake of Labour’s local election drubbing earlier this month.

Wes Streeting quit as health secretary and declared that he would stand in any leadership contest.

Mr Burnham launched his Makerfield campaign vowing that “a vote for me in this by-election is a vote to change Labour”.