Keir Starmer has hinted that he will offer his main rival Andy Burnham a top job in his cabinet if he wins the highly-anticipated Makerfield by-election tomorrow.
Burnham, currently the Greater Manchester mayor, has said he will join a leadership contest to oust the prime minister if he becomes an MP again.
But the PM has said that would cause “chaos” and has instead hinted at giving Burnham a key role in his government instead.
Sky News’ Beth Rigby asked Starmer at the G7 summit in France if he would bring Burnham into his cabinet if he wins in Makerfield.
He replied: “Oh, Andy is a great asset. And, yes, I want him to have a big role in government. When I came in to…”
Rigby cut in: “Are you going to call him at the weekend and invite him back into your cabinet?”
“Well I’m sure I’ll talk to Andy after the weekend, of course I will,” Starmer said. “I’ve spoken to him many times in recent weeks. and when I came into politics in 2015, it was Andy Burnham’s team that I joined, and we worked very well together.
“He’s a huge asset. He’s been a fantastic mayor in Manchester. And if he comes back into parliament, I hope he wins in the by-election. He’ll be a fantastic asset for our party and for the country.”
Burnham spent 16 years working as the Labour MP for Leigh before he stepped down to run as Greater Manchester mayor.
He also served as a cabinet minister under Gordon Brown and a junior minister under Tony Blair.
If he wins the Makerfield seat, a mayoral election will be triggered in Greater Manchester.
The prime minister insisted that Labour should focus on that contest rather than a leadership challenge if the party is successful in the by-election.
Asked if he believes it is incumbent on Burnham to secure a Labour mayor in Greater Manchester before making waves in Westminster, Starmer said: “I would say to the whole of the Labour Party and that whole Labour movement, we’re straight into a Manchester mayoralty.
“It is really important that we win that, because this is one of the huge moralities in the north-west and really important to us and to devolution more generally.”
Pressed on whether he is angry at the predicament he is in and if he blames himself, Starmer replied: “No, I don’t feel angry, I don’t feel bitter, because I remind myself it is an incredible privilege to be the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.”
The PM also said he “wants” to lead the Labour Party into the next general election.
The interview comes after ex-health secretary Wes Streeting announced he is preparing to launch a leadership challenge against his old boss next week.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Streeting called on the PM to say when he plans to leave No.10 if Burnham wins the by-election.
He said: “When the results are in, I hope the prime minister will at that stage reflect on his own position and set out a timetable.”
Burnham has already said he will join any Labour leadership contest.
But Starmer suggested he would not step aside for anyone to replace him, telling Sky: “I’m not going to walk away. I’m going to fight.”
