𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Andy Burnham’s rapid rise to power is linked to underlying issues in the Labour party, it has been suggested.

The former Mayor of Greater Manchester has made his desire to be Prime Minister no secret following Keir Starmer’s sudden resignation on Monday, but Burnham’s lack of challengers for the keys to Number 10 sends the message that there are cracks within the Labour cabinet, Conservative MP Esther McVey told the Daily Expresso podcast.

“That says something that they couldn’t, amongst their MPs, find anybody,” she said. “That’s four hundred of them – that’s the whole cabinet that they’re saying are duffs and duds. They brought him in to do that.”

Burnham’s determination for power has been backed by many Labour MPs, including ex health secretary Wes Streeting – but Ms McVey raised concerns about Burnham’s swift transition from mayor to parliament and his ability to govern.

She said: “People have talked about the sheer arrogance that he left his mayoral seat in Manchester. He was given a seat to fight, he will then come in and people will say, ‘hang on, isn’t there going to be the Prime Minister of the country? Isn’t there going to be anybody to stand against him?’

“People need to understand the position of mayor is very different to the position of Prime Minister.”

Burnham was sworn in as an MP on Monday after winning the Makerfield by-election. While ministers evaluate whether to challenge him for Labour leadership, if no-one steps up, he could be the next Prime Minister in as quick as three weeks.