Top News

Andy Burnham has been warned his reasons for wanting to become an MP will fail to win over Reform UK voters in Makerfield. Former Tory MP Steve Baker told the Spectator's Coffee House Shots podcast's host James Heale that Mr Burnham may be "King of the North" in Greater Manchester, but warned: "People don't like being taken for granted and they do like to be appreciated.

"So the voters in Makerfield, they now know they really count for the life of the nation... I suspect they'll pay attention to what they're doing. The same people who just voted Reform, when asked to vote for the Mayor of [Greater] Manchester to return to Parliament so that he can be prime minister, well that's not about them, is it?"

While Mr Burnham has announced his ambition to run in Makerfield, Labour's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) has yet to confirm the party's candidate for the by-election on June 18.

The NEC granted permission for Mr Burnham to stand in the selection process for the by-election on Friday (May 15).

Mr Baker went on to suggest Mr Burnham could also fail to win in Makerfield as he has already been losing Labour voters in Manchester, adding: "It's a huge test of his personality and whether vibes conquers intent for the whole nation."

For his part, Mr Burnham told Channel 4 News on Saturday (May 16) he is focused on winning a seat in Parliament, rather than ousting Sir Keir as Prime Minister.

He said: "It's just not the issue. The issue is winning. Winning a by-election with what I'm saying, you know, it's not about, you know, necessarily the next thing."

The mayor is seen as Sir Keir's biggest would-be leadership rival.

Labour is also getting its "just desserts" for creating misery for the Conservatives over 14 years the party was in power, according to Mr Baker.

The former MP for Wycombe said the current furore over Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's leadership would be amusing, but it isn't because it affects the future of the country.

Recalling past efforts to oust prime ministers, Mr Baker said it was about numbers and getting enough MPs to back a rival contender.

He said it requires a "ruthless" commitment while also maintaining friendly relations with those needed for support.

The former politician suggested Labour MPs were approaching the potential contest in an overly aggressive way, with "no eye" on party unity.

Mr Baker said for him ousting a leader was only ever about achieving a policy objective and making sure his party was capable of delivering it.

He suggested the idea Mr Burnham would sweep in and solve Labour's problems was "for the birds". The ex-Parliamentarian said of Mr Burnham: "He's not as good as people think he is."

Mr Burnham told Channel 4 he had made a whole career fighting for people in the north, adding that a "big change moment is needed" in British politics.

The mayor elsewhere told the BBC he wants to run in the Makerfield by-election to "save" Labour, which suffered disastrous results in elections in Scotland, Wales and England earlier this month.