Sir Keir Starmer has defended his record in power by insisting "our plan is working" as pressure mounts on the Prime Minister following a string of damaging election results.
The Labour leader faces growing uncertainty over his future in Downing Street, with figures across the party increasingly positioning themselves for a possible leadership contest.
Sir Keir pointed to measures aimed at easing pressure on household finances, pledging his Government would "keep pushing forward".
Almost 100 Labour MPs called on the Prime Minister to resign following heavy losses in local elections across England, Wales and Scotland earlier this month.
Mr Burnham launched his Makerfield campaign on Friday, telling supporters: "A vote for me in this by-election is a vote to change Labour."
The Greater Manchester Mayor also told GB News the upcoming by-election will be a “turning point for British politics”.
Meanwhile, Mr Streeting has proposed a wealth levy to revive the Sure Start programme, alongside planning reforms designed to allow councils to build more social housing.
Sir Keir has vowed not to resign even if Mr Burnham wins the June 18 by-election and triggers a leadership challenge.
'This Government will keep pushing forward to deliver the change the country voted for,' Sir Keir vowed
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Instead, the Prime Minister has attempted to focus attention on his Government’s economic and public service record.
"We now have the fastest-growing economy in the G7, net migration has fallen and NHS waiting lists are at their lowest level in three-and-a-half years," Sir Keir said.
"Our plan is working. And as summer begins, we are going further to bring down the cost of living and make life easier for families, so they have more room to enjoy it."
He added: "This Government will keep pushing forward to deliver the change the country voted for."
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Mr Burnham told supporters on Friday that 'a vote for me in this by-election is a vote to change Labour'
| GETTYOffice for National Statistics figures showed the economy expanded by 0.6 per cent during the first quarter of the year, ahead of forecasts.
Separate data published this week also showed net migration fell to around 171,000 last year - the lowest level recorded since the pandemic.
Latest NHS England figures showed 7.11 million treatments were waiting to be completed in March, down by more than 110,000 compared with February.
Despite Sir Keir’s claims of progress, both Mr Burnham and Mr Streeting have criticised the Government for failing to deliver the scale of change many Labour voters expected after the party’s 2024 landslide victory.
Mr Streeting criticised the Government for failing to deliver the scale of change many Labour voters expected
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Mr Streeting has pledged to restore Sure Start by increasing funding for Labour’s Best Start programme by an additional £1.7billion on top of the existing £1billion allocation.
"The biggest thing that I think is broken in this country at the moment is that, for the first time in modern history, the prospects for the next generation are worse than the last," Mr Streeting said.
"Restoring Sure Start would prove that this Labour Government is absolutely committed to building a better future for the next generation."
His wider housing proposals would allow councils to capture increased land values from development projects in order to fund homes and local services.
Councils that fail to meet housing targets could also lose planning powers under the reforms.
"I took on failing NHS trusts. I will take on failing councils. Every child deserves a home to call their own and a fair chance to make the most of it," the former Health Secretary added.
Meanwhile, Mr Burnham admitted Labour "need to be better than we have been" and promised to restore "the party back they used to know" as he launched his bid to return to Westminster.
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