Andy Burnham said MPs are privately urging him to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership, amid questions about a possible return to Westminster. He criticised Downing Street for creating a climate of fear and argued that wholesale change is needed to confront what he described as an existential threat to Labour. In an interview, he outlined policy ideas including higher council tax on some southern homes and a 50p top rate of income tax as part of a plan to turn the country around.

Burnham, a former Labour MP for Leigh and mayor of Greater Manchester, said he was not plotting an immediate return to the Commons or seeking to undermine the government as Labour prepares for its conference. In separate remarks, he told a political publication that the Liverpool gathering must answer where Labour’s plan to turn the country around lies, and he signalled willingness to work with others to implement change. He described his approach as aspirational socialism, calling for greater public control of housing, energy, water and rail, with a view to rekindling working-class ambition. He said he would be willing to join forces with those who share a plan to turn the country around and that he is ready to play any role.

A Labour source described Burnham as a potential stalking horse in the leadership contest. He has publicly backed Lucy Powell in the race to succeed Angela Rayner as deputy leader, while Powell has received a £15,000 donation from Dale Vince to support her campaign. Powell positions herself as the independent choice against Bridget Phillipson, who rejected claims she is No 10’s preferred candidate and said the party faces a big task in Manchester. Phillipson emphasised there is no vacancy for Burnham and noted he has previously stood for Labour leader twice. Burnham himself has been a Labour MP from 2001 until 2017.