𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Mr Burnham will make a dramatic return to Westminster on Monday to be sworn in as an MP following his victory in last week’s Makerfield by-election. He is also planning to deliver a rallying cry to Labour backbenchers. His return is likely to trigger Sir Keir’s departure following a catastrophic premiership, with Donald Trump saying the Prime Minister “will resign” as he accused him of failing over immigration and energy policies. But critics have warned that the British public don’t know what Mr Burnham stands for. Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride, told the Express: “Andy Burnham wants to tear up Labour’s already disastrous economic legacy and go even further. This will punish hard-working people who do the right thing.

“Rachel Reeves has already raised taxes by over £60 billion while letting the welfare bill spiral out of control. Andy Burnham wants to double down on all her mistakes, with yet more taxes and more reckless spending and borrowing.”

Sir Mel also told the BBC: “My concern about Andy Burnham is the flip flopping – he does not seem to know what the fiscal rules are.

“I think the concern that I have is, in terms of what is good for the country, even if we have a change of Prime Minister now, and that looks increasingly likely – what is going to follow?”

Mr Burnham has been approached for a response to the claims. It comes as the US President fired a fresh broadside at Sir Keir. Writing on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Mr Trump said: “Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom.

“He failed badly on two very important subjects – IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well! President DJT.”

Mr Trump has repeatedly urged the UK to open up the North Sea for oil instead of using “windmills”. Around 100 Labour MPs have publicly called on Sir Keir to set out a timetable for his departure.

Cabinet Ministers have also privately pressured the PM to make way for Mr Burnham who is rallying mass support. It is not yet clear that, if the Labour leader resigns, he will go immediately or have a longer “orderly” exit during the summer.

It is understood Mr Burnham’s camp wants Sir Keir to set out his plans in the coming days but would accept a timetable that kept him in No 10 until September.

Sources insisted on Sunday that Sir Keir, who spent the weekend discussing his future with his wife Victoria at the PM’s country retreat Chequers, had yet to make a final decision about his future.

But one of his Cabinet allies failed to deny claims that he is poised to quit amid feverish speculation about his future.

Peter Kyle, the Business Secretary, said the Prime Minister is reflecting on the “political realities” he now faces.

This is a stark change from 48 hours earlier when Sir Keir vowed not to walk away from his post in the immediate aftermath of Mr Burnham’s by-election victory.

Pressure has been mounting for weeks Cabinet minister’s Wes Streeting, the former Health Secretary, and ex-Defence Secretary, John Healey, plus a number of junior ministers, resigning since Labour’s humiliating local elections defeats in May.