𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Andy Burnham will start receiving government briefings from the civil service “as soon as possible”, Downing Street has said.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has agreed with Cabinet Secretary Dame Antonia Romeo that Civil Service access talks can take place with prospective candidates to succeed him.

Sir Keir told his Cabinet that he would “seek to resolve difficult issues in the coming weeks to support his successor” and make the transition of leadership “as easy as possible.

Cabinet minister Darren Jones and former armed forces minister Al Carns are being considered as potential candidates by Labour MPs, wary about installing Mr Burnham in No 10 without a contest.

The new Makerfield MP, who only returned to the Commons on Monday, could be in Downing Street within weeks if a challenger does not emerge.

It comes as Mr 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.

Burnham backer Nick Thomas-Symonds suggested a contest would not be in the best interests of the country.

The Cabinet Office minister told Sky News: “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.”

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.

Sir Keir announced he would be standing down in an emotional statement outside No 10 on Monday, promising an “orderly handover of power” to his successor.