Burnham says he would seek to enter any Labour leadership contest

Andy Burnham said he would seek to enter any potential Labour leadership contest should he win the Makerfield by-election on 18 June.

The Greater Manchester mayor made clear his ambitions as he appeared alongside four other candidates during a BBC Question Time special in the constituency.

Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon said there was a need for a "big move away from career politicians" and warned against using Makerfield as a "stepping stone".

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has defied calls from some Labour MPs to step down after poor election results last month. No formal challenge has been launched against him.

A No 10 spokesperson said: "The prime minister will not walk away from the mandate he was given just two years ago to build a stronger, fairer Britain."

The by-election was called after then-Labour MP Josh Simons stepped down, a move he said was to allow Burnham to run for Parliament and potentially mount a leadership bid.

The vote in Makerfield is expected to be a race between Burnham and Kenyon, a plumber and local councillor.

Asked about how politicians could restore public trust in them, Burnham criticised "point-scoring before problem-solving" in Westminster before he was pressed about his own ambitions.

The Labour candidate said: "I can't do anything unless I'm lucky enough to get the support of people here.

"But if I get your support, I would seek to represent you at the highest possible level and give this constituency maximum power and influence.

"I think Wes Streeting seems to have launched a leadership contest, so if that is running I would seek to join it, but I'd have to persuade members of the Parliamentary Labour Party to do the same."

Any challenger wanting to trigger a leadership contest must be an MP and have the backing of 81 Labour MPs.

The attorney general, Lord Hermer, has said that Sir Keir could survive such a leadership challenge.

He told BBC Radio 4's Political Thinking that the prime minister has "consistently been underestimated" and has "always proven his critics wrong".

Lord Hermer said he was "desperate" for Labour to win the Makerfield election, but refused to engage in what he termed speculation over Burnham's leadership ambitions.

He said: "Keir is leader, prime minister, with a mandate from the general election and an absolute determination to better this country."

Streeting has confirmed he would enter any potential contest and has encouraged people to back Burnham in Makerfield as he wants a "proper contest with the best candidates on the field".

Kenyon criticised Burnham's record as may