Andy Burnham would smash Keir Starmer and Wes Streeting in Labour leadership contest, poll shows

Robert Jenrick lashes out at Robert Jenrick

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GB NEWS

Susanna Siddell

By Susanna Siddell


Published: 19/05/2026

- 07:19

Updated: 19/05/2026

- 09:27
Susanna Siddell

By Susanna Siddell


Published: 19/05/2026

- 07:19

Updated: 19/05/2026

- 09:27

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Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham would smash Sir Keir Starmer and Wes Streeting in a Labour leadership contest, a new poll has revealed.

Polling conducted by YouGov found 47 per cent of party members named Mr Burnham as their first choice candidate for Labour leader.


Mr Burnham, who is hoping to win a by-election in Makerfield on June 18, also opened up considerable leads in head-to-head contests.

The Greater Manchester Mayor would defeat the Prime Minister by a margin of 59 per cent to 37 per cent.

The "King of the North" is also more popular than Mr Streeting, opening up a 70-point lead over the ex-Health Secretary.

Mr Streeting, who announced on Saturday his intention to stand in a leadership contest, also struggled against both Angela Rayner and Ed Miliband among Labour members.

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'He's got a great track record...in Manchester': Security minister refuses to back Andy Burnham as PM

Security minister Dan Jarvis has refused to back Andy Burnham as a potential successor to Sir Keir Starmer.

"He's got a great track record in Manchester," he told GB News's Ellie Costello, when asked about Mr Burnham's suitability for Labour leader.

"And it's absolutely his right to put himself forward as the candidate for the Makerfield by-election. But there is a process that is in place, the NEC will have to take a view about who they think is the best candidate and whoever they decide will be the candidate.

"And I'm sure the whole Labour movement will get behind that person and campaign for them in this important by-election."

Mr Jarvis backed the Greater Manchester Mayor in a previous leadership contest.

PICTURED: David Lammy arrives at No10 ahead of Cabinet meeting

Angela Rayner makes leadership quip at birthday bash - 'Only joking!'

Angela Rayner refused to shy away from the leadership speculation as she made a jovial quip at an event last night.

Speaking at Big Issue's 35th birthday dinner, the former Deputy Prime Minister - and Sir Keir Starmer's rumoured rival - said she was there to "launch her leadership bid", Politico reported.

"Only joking! My head of comms is here and freaking out. That was a joke," Ms Rayner clarified.

PM gears up to chair first Cabinet meeting since Wes Streeting's resignation

The Prime Minister is gearing up for his first Cabinet meeting with his top team since Wes Streeting resigned last week.

The former Health Secretary said he had "lost confidence" in his boss's leadership and called on Sir Keir to set out a timetable for his departure.

Following a tumultuous week in office, Sir Keir Starmer has insisted he would not "walk away" from his premiership and vowed to lead his party into the next General Election.

Keir Starmer warned decision to redirect £6bn away from 'first line of defence' could compromise national security

Sir Keir Starmer has been warned the decision to redirect £6billion away from the "first line of defence" could compromise national security.

Some of Britain's most senior former military chiefs have co-signed a letter protesting the Government's decision to cut about £6billion from the overseas budget to fund an increase in defence spending.

Among the 51 signees are Field Marshal Lord Richards, a former Chief of the Defence Staff, Major General James Cowan, who commanded the British Army's primary fighting division, and General Sir Nick Parker, former Commander-in-Chief of Land Forces.

The cuts to the overseas budget will be used to fund an estimated £28billion hole in the Ministry of Defence's finances.

But Lord Richards has urged Sir Keir "not to force a choice between defence and development".

UK unemployment rises to 5% and wage growth slows but Labour insist figures 'encouraging'

Britain's jobless rate has risen from 4.9 per cent to five per cent in the three months to March, according to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) labour market data.

It comes despite expectations that unemployment would remain unchanged on the quarter.

These figures include the first month of the US–Iran conflict, which triggered a sharp rise in global oil and gas prices.

The resulting increase in fuel costs fed through to businesses and households almost immediately.

READ THE FULL STORY.

BOMBSHELL POLL: Breakdown of Labour members' leadership views

Andy Burnham would be victorious in a leadership contest, bombshell polling has suggested.

The Greater Manchester Mayor is the first choice for leader across 47 per cent of Labour members.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer comes runner-up on 31 per cent.

The recently-resigned Wes Streeting lags far behind his rivals on just four per cent.

The pollsters at YouGov interviewed 706 Labour members from May 14 to 18.

Yvette Cooper to warn world ‘sleepwalking into food crisis’ over Iran conflict upheaval

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is set to warn the world is "sleepwalking into a global food crisis" following the upheaval driven by the Iran conflict.

Ms Cooper will sound the alarm over the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz this morning, pointing out the crisis has disrupted the worldwide distribution of fertilisers.

As a result, some 45 million people are at risk of falling into acute food insecurity if the war is not resolved by the middle of the year.

Ms Cooper will advise the reopening of the strait to dodge the looming crisis to allow fertiliser through the key maritime passageway.

READ THE FULL WRITE-UP HERE.

Labour leadership chaos could 'cost British families £300 each’

The Labour leadership contest has already cost British families £300 each, the Tories have warned.

Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride will say taxpayers face a "Burnham penalty" after Sir Keir Starmer's position as Labour leader has been thrown into doubt.

Chaos and speculation around Downing Street - after a pathway for Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to return to Parliament was opened - has been reflected in the bond markets.

Gilt yields, effectively the interest rate on government borrowing, have increased since Labour's poor local election results and movement from potential leadership challengers such as Mr Burnham and former Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

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