Manchester Mayor Burnham Prepares Labour Leadership Challenge Amid Party Crisis

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, is preparing a potential leadership challenge to Labour leader and Prime Minister Keir Starmer amid growing dissatisfaction within the party. Burnham has launched a new campaign group called 'Mainstream,' which advocates for wealth taxes, nationalising utility companies, and ending the two-child benefit cap, signaling a left-wing challenge to Starmer's government. The group is seen as a vehicle to support Burnham's ambitions and has been compared to the 'Labour Together' network that helped Starmer win the leadership in 2021. Burnham is expected to publicly criticise Starmer at the upcoming Labour party conference, calling for a reset to improve Labour's standing ahead of local elections in 2026. The leadership challenge speculation has intensified following multiple crises in Starmer's administration, including the controversy over Lord Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the US and the resignation of deputy Angela Rayner. Despite not currently being an MP, Burnham's previous cabinet experience and popularity in Greater Manchester make him a notable contender within the party.