Andy Burnham has thrown has support behind Keir Starmer, calling on Labour to stop infighting and focus on fighting Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.
The Manchester Mayor, long considered a potential leadership challenger, joined other frontline Labour politicians in uniting behind the Prime Minister as he clung to power yesterday amid intense public scrutiny over the Lord Mandelson scandal.
While staying silent as Cabinet Ministers lined up to declare their allegiance following Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar’s intervention, he made clear his position while speaking at an event on Tuesday afternoon.
When asked if Sir Keir enjoyed his full backing, Mr Burnham said: “Yes, he has my support.
“The Government has my support, and they had my support when I put myself forward for the by-election.”
“What I am calling for very clearly today is for the unity to create the stability, to give the Government the platform, to focus on all of the things that I’m talking about today."
Aiming at infighting within the Labour Party, the Manchester Mayor said: “We need to sort of dial down all of this constant briefing.
“It’s seemingly a bit endless, some of the anonymous briefings going around. I think we just need to focus on what’s in front of us."
Appearing to address Reform UK, Mr Burnham added: “There’s a by-election in front of us, I’ve been playing my role in that by-election… that’s the issue in politics right in front of us – the politics of collectivism versus the politics of division.
“My view is you’ve got to focus on stopping that now…. and everything else is noise in the background.”
Keir Starmer's former adviser who campaigned for paedophile resigns Labour whip
Keir Starmer’s former communications chief Lord Matthew Doyle has apologised for his past association with a paedophile councillor and said he will not be taking the Labour whip.
In a statement concerning the row over the disgraced Sean Morton, Lord Doyle said: “Those of us who took him at his word were clearly mistaken.
“I have never sought to dismiss or diminish the seriousness of the offences for which he was rightly convicted. They are clearly abhorrent and I have never questioned his conviction.
“I am sorry about the mistakes I have made. I will not be taking the Labour whip.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, let me conclude where I started. Morton’s crimes were vile and my only concerns are for his victims.”
MPs back benefits increase in line with inflation
MPs have backed proposals to increase inflation-linked benefits and tax credits by 3.8% from April.
Universal credit standard allowances will also see an additional uplift of 2.3%, after the Commons passed a social security motion on Tuesday.
MPs also approved a pensions motion, which will result in state pensions rising by 4.8% from April. This is inline with the annual increase in the Average Weekly Earnings (AWE) index for May–July 2025.
The new state pension will increase by £11.05, with the weekly allowance increasing from £230.25 to £241.30. Those receiving the basic state pension will see an increase of £8.45 a week, rising from £176.45 to £184.90.
Work and pensions minister Stephen Timms said the motions approved by MPs “commit the Government to increased expenditure of £9 billion in 2026/27, of which £6 billion will be from state pensions and pension benefits, £2 billion from disability and carers benefits, and £1 billion from other working age benefits”.
Mandelson 'had no influence' over major Government defence deal, insists Labour
Peter Mandelson had “no influence” on the Ministry of Defence signing a contract with American tech giant Palantir, a defence minister has said, amid “serious questions” about his links to the company.
Palantir signed a three-year £421 million deal with the MoD in December 2025 to continue providing services like data integration, analytics and AI platforms.
Questions are being asked about whether disgraced former US ambassador Lord Mandelson was involved in securing this deal, as he held shares in Global Counsel, a lobbying firm hired by Palantir.
Defence minister Luke Pollard told MPs on Tuesday: “As the Defence Secretary (John Healey) has said, the contract was his decision, and his decision alone.
“Peter Mandelson had no influence on the decision to award this contract.”
He noted that the previous Conservative government signed a three-year enterprise agreement with Palantir in 2022, and said the new deal builds on that.
Badenoch: Rebel Labour MPs would back Tories in no-confidence vote on Keir Starmer
Kemi Badenoch has said "some" Labour MPs have given "indications" they would back the Tories in a no confidence vote on Keir Starmer.
The PM faced his toughest battle to remain in No10 on Monday, after the resignations of Morgan McSweeney and Tim Allen coupled with Scottish leader Anas Sarwar calling for Sir Keir to resign in a press conference.
While meetings with Labour MPs last night and the cabinet this morning, it appeared Sir Keir had steadied the ship for the time being.
However, Mrs Badenoch this morning said: "We’ve always been prepared to table a motion of no confidence, but what I want to see is us winning a motion of no confidence and that is why I made the offer to Labour MPs.
"Some have given us indications, but we’re not at the stage yet where the Prime Minister would lose such a motion. But I believe that the MPs behind him have lost confidence in the Prime Minister.
"They’re just now afraid for a general election because they know they would all lose their jobs."
The Tories, as official Opposition, can table a motion of no confidence in the Government at any time.
Should the Government lose the vote, it would be expected to resign or go to a General Election - though the chances of this look slim.
Ms Badenoch told the Press Association: "Labour MPs and the Labour Party have lost confidence in their leader, but the MPs are too scared of losing their jobs, so they’re not going to call an election, and they’ve given him a stay of execution.
"The sad thing is that the country is suffering from not being governed at all.”
Prime Minister insists he 'will never walk away'
Keir Starmer has insisted he "will never walk away", after his tumultuous recent days in Downing Street.
Speaking in Hertfordshire, Sir Keir said: "There are some people in recent days who say the Labour government should have a different fight, a fight with itself, instead of a fight for the millions of people who need us to fight for them.
"I say to them, I will never walk away from the mandate I was given to change this country. I will never walk away from the people that I'm charged with fighting for, and I will never walk away from the country that I love."
The PM continued: "I want to serve every single part of that country, the country that I love."
He then turned to the challenge of Reform UK: "But the fight coming up in politics, the real fight is not in the Labour Party. It's with the right-wing politics that challenges that.
"The politics of Reform, the politics of divide, divide, divide... Grievance, grievance, grievance that will tear our country apart.
"That is the fight that we are in. And I will be in that fight as long as I have breath in my body."
Keir Starmer makes first public appearance since Downing Street chaos
Keir Starmer has made his first public appearance since the "turmoil" at Downing Street that has seen multiple resignations and calls for him to step down.
Speaking to a community centre in Hertfordshire, the Prime Minister hailed a "busy week" at No10.
"I know, whatever is going on in the world - and it is volatile in the world at the moment - and whatever is going on in the turmoil in politics, there's been quite a lot of that going on in the last few days - I know that for you and for millions of people, what matters most is the cost of living actually paying the bills, getting through, improving living standards, public services that work," he said.
Kemi Badenoch returns to McDonald's kitchen 30 years on
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch returned to a McDonald's branch in Ruislip, north-west London on Tuesday morning, 30 years after she worked there as a teenager.
When asked how it felt to be back in a McDonald’s kitchen, Mrs Badenoch told the Press Association: "I did have a sausage and egg McMuffin.
"It’s been 30 years since I last worked at McDonald’s but there are lots of good memories."
Mrs Badenoch has previously claimed she "became working class" while working at the restaurant chain as a 16-year-old.
WATCH: Katherine Forster rounds up after Andy Burnham event speech
WATCH: Christopher Hope lifts lid on Prime Minister's briefing
Andy Burnham calls for 'stability' and 'greater unity'
Andy Burnham has called for "stability" and "greater unity" after a tumultuous few days within the Labour Party.
Speaking at a Resolution Foundation event, the Mayor of Greater Manchester warned of the challenges of “Unsung Britain” and said tackling those "requires stability, and I make my own call to that today across the Labour Party.
"Of course, stability comes from greater unity, and that would be helped by a more inclusive way of running the party, but recent events make that now feel possible," he said.
"Today, our focus should be on the by-election in Manchester, which I am going to say to you all today, is winnable for Labour."
He added: "This is a moment for everyone [to be] pulling in the same direction."
Mr Burnham also reiterated his earlier statement in which he said the Prime Minister had his full support.
Andy Burnham says Keir Starmer has his full support despite Gorton and Denton snub
Andy Burnham has said Keir Starmer has his full support, despite his snub, orchestrated by the PM, for the Gorton and Denton by-election.
Last month, Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC) voted to block Mr Burnham in a landslide decision, with eight of the 10 members, including Sir Keir, voting against the Mayor of Greater Manchester standing. The decision caused uproar within the party.
Labour later announced Angeliki Stogia as their candidate for the crucial by-election instead.
But, despite increasing pressure on the Prime Minister including Anas Sarwar publicly calling for him to resign, the Mayor of Greater Manchester has joined cabinet ministers in backing the under-fire Labour leader.
Asked by members of the media whether the PM has his full support this lunchtime, Mr Burnham replied: "Yes, he does."
Having long been considered one of the main challengers to Sir Keir's leadership, the Mayor of Greater Manchester had remained notably silent on the PM's position until now.
'This is ridiculous!' Ex-Lib Dem MP blasts Bangor University for banning Reform UK: 'This is not how you solve problems'
Former Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker has hit out at Bangor University’s debating society after it blocked Reform UK from holding a student event, calling the decision "misguided".
It comes as Reform MP Sarah Pochin had sought to visit the university and participate in a question-and-answer session with students, but the Bangor Debating and Political Society turned down her request.
The society justified its refusal by pointing to its strict policy against discrimination, stating it maintained "zero tolerance for any form of racism, transphobia, or homophobia displayed by the members of Reform UK".
Speaking about this on GB News, host Alex Armstrong said: "I mean, it's ridiculous. It's supposed to be a debating society."
Welsh First Minster breaks silence on Keir Starmer after Anas Sarwar calls on PM to resign
Eluned Morgan has broken her silence on Keir Starmer, after reports she was going to follow Scottish First Minster Anas Sarwar on his calls for the PM to resign.
Instead, the Welsh First Minster has backed Sir Keir in a statement released on her X account.
"I support the Prime Minister in the job he was elected to do," Mrs Morgan's statement read.
"After years of revolving-door leadership under the Conservatives, the country needs stability in an age of instability, and that matters for Wales.
"I had concerns that Peter Mandelson was incompatible with public office because of the company he kept. What has since come to light has only reinforced those concerns.
"These issues are deeply troubling not least because, once again, the voices of women and girls were ignored.
"That failure must be acknowledged and confronted honestly."
She added that her focus "remains on leading Wales with integrity and delivering real change for people here."
Keir Starmer remains 'determined' Anas Sarwar will be Scotland's First Minster - despite his calls to resign
Keir Starmer remains "determined" that Anas Sarwar will be Scotland's next First Minster, despite his calls for the PM to resign less than 24 hours ago.
Just yesterday, Mr Sarwar tried rally his rapidly diminishing Scottish voters, saying there had been "too many mistakes" from Sir Keir's government, insisting recent scandals, such as Peter Mandelson, was a "distraction" from the looming Holyrood elections.
Rather than spark another Downing street crisis, the reaction from cabinet ministers was instead to back the PM. Angela Rayner, Wes Streeting, Shabana Mahmood and Lisa Nandy are just some of the big names that came out in support of Sir Keir following Mr Sarwar's press conference.
Additionally, Shadow Scotland Minister, Andrew Bowie, told GB News on Tuesday morning that it showed the Scottish Labour leader was "completely out of the loop".
But despite this, the PM is said to remain "determined" to see Mr Sarwar win the Holyrood elections in May.
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander told BBC this morning that the pair are "individuals who have strong and clear opinions but who do not bear grudges".
"I have spoken to the Prime Minister in the last few hours, I have spoken to Anas, and I can tell you sincerely there is a willingness to work together," he added.
Mr Alexander continued: "Keir Starmer was on the phone to me yesterday evening making very clear he remains determined Anas Sarwar is the first minister of Scotland after May.
"Equally, Anas is clear he has set out his position, he will work hard to take the fight to the SNP in the coming months."
WATCH: Katherine Forster discusses PM's latest cabinet meeting
Bev Turner lets rip on 'small-minded censorship' of university debating society as she blasts Reform UK campus ban
Bev Turner has branded members of the Bangor University debating society as "small-minded" and "petulant" after it announced a ban on Reform UK representatives on its campus.
The uproar occurred after the Bangor Debating and Political Society turned down a request for Sarah Pochin, who represents Runcorn and Helsby, to participate in a question-and-answer session with students.
The student society, which operates independently through the Students' Union rather than the university itself, issued a statement explaining its refusal.
"We stand by this decision as a committee. We have zero tolerance for any form of racism, transphobia, or homophobia displayed by the members of Reform UK," the society declared.
MPs arrive at Downing Street as PM prepares cabinet meeting
Ministers have arrived at No10 as Keir Starmer prepares to meet with his cabinet again after a chaotic Monday.
Wes Streeting, who caused the PM yet another headache last night, Shabana Mahmood and Lisa Nandy have all been spotted at Downing Street. All three of them publicly backed the Prime Minister yesterday.
The meeting marks the start of what is expected to be a busy day for Sir Keir. The Prime Minister is expected to make a public appearance this afternoon, though the details of which are yet to be revealed.
It would mark Sir Keir's first public appearance since a manic few days at Downing Street. Resignations from key communication figures such as Morgan McSweeney and Tim Allen, followed by Anas Sarwar calling for the PM to quit and Mr Streeting's text revelations last night - the PM has faced his toughest battle to stay in No10 to date.
Ministers BANNED from releasing texts with Peter Mandelson after Wes Streeting revelations
Ministers have been banned from releasing texts early with Peter Mandelson, after Wes Streeting revealed his conversations with the disgraced former Labour peer last night.
The Health Secretary told Sky News he has "nothing to hide" regarding his relationship with Mandelson last night, subsequently revealing the previously private messages the pair had exchanged.
Instead of demonstrating his total innocence, the texts revealed his criticism of the Labour Party for all to see.
The Health Sec accused the Party of having "no growth strategy at all", in another scathing criticism of the PM.
In response the Cabinet Office Propriety and Ethics team last night contacted ministers telling them not to publish anything within the scope of the Mandelson enquiry, with panic in Whitehall that many could try to clear their names, according to The Sun.
The official release of documents relating to Mandelson could take weeks.
WATCH: Shadow Scotland Minister says Anas Sarwar is 'completely out of the loop'
Trade union Unite could 'cut ties with Labour'
| GETTYTrade union Unite could accelerate their plans to "cut ties with Labour", it has been reported.
United, one of the UK's largest trade unions, is looking to disaffiliate from the Labour Party sooner than planned because it believes the party no longer delivers for workers.
The group, who were Labour's biggest trade union donor in 2025, are said to be looking to make the decision at their annual conference this year, as apposed to 2027, Sky News reports.
General Secretary Sharon Graham has held her contempt of the latest iteration of the party as no secret.
She described Labour's agenda as "rudderless" and "austerity lite", adding that the party's "failing leadership" has cost them in a piece for The Times back in December last year.
"There is much agonising right now about whether, when and who should replace the Prime Minister. That is inevitable," Mrs Graham said.
"But a new Labour leader with the same policies won’t cut it."
Ed Miliband reveals stance on leadership challenge
Ed Miliband revealed this morning he was "not going to run" for the Labour leadership in any potential contest.
The Net Zero Minister said the talk of any leadership pitch of his was "absolute baloney".
Asked whether he would rule out running, the Mr Miliband told Sky News: “I’m not running for the leadership, no.”
Then pressed on whether he would rule out running rather than saying he was not currently running, he said: "Yes, yes, I’m not going to run."
Across the Atlantic... Top DEMOCRAT tears into Keir Starmer as he predicts British Government will be toppled
A senior Democrat Congressman has warned that the British Government and the Royal Family could fall in a major overseas intervention.
Ro Khanna, the California lawmaker who helped force the release of the Epstein files, spoke to reporters ahead of Ghislaine Maxwell's closed-door testimony on Tuesday.
Convicted sex trafficker Maxwell fielded questions from a US House committee on Monday - but gave no answer to every single one.
Before that, Mr Khanna warned that Lord Mandelson "may bring down the whole Government, from what I hear".
"[Mandelson] engaged in terrible behaviour. The allegations are very serious - that he was working for Gordon Brown and then feeding information about UK possibly buying Euros and having Epstein trade on that," he continued.
Police are also still investigating Lord Mandelson over allegations of misconduct in public office.
It is understood that his position is that he has not acted in any way criminally, and that he was not motivated by financial gain.
As Labour turmoil rumbles on... Reform UK opens up eight-point lead in new poll
Nigel Farage's Reform UK has opened up an eight-point polling lead
|GETTY
After a week of chaos at the very top of the Labour Party, a new poll has laid bare how Britons might vote at the next General Election.
Fresh data from YouGov has placed Reform UK eight points clear - with 27 per cent of voters opting for Nigel Farage's party.
Second sits Labour with a potential 19 per cent vote share, ahead of the Conservatives on 18 per cent, the Green Party on 16 per cent and the Lib Dems on 14 per cent.
Of the five leading parties, only Reform made any gains since last week's YouGov poll - again for The Times and Sky News.
Mr Farage's party boosted its support by one per cent while the Greens slipped by the same amount.
Richard Tice issues major warning to Bangor University amid Reform UK free speech row
Richard Tice has issued a major warning to Bangor University amid a growing row over a ban on Reform UK.
A debating society at the university refused a request by Reform to hold a Q&A session with students due to its “zero tolerance” hate policy.
Run by students through Bangor Students' Union, the society said it had "zero tolerance for any form of racism, transphobia, or homophobia displayed by the members of Reform UK".
And now, Reform's deputy leader Mr Tice has weighed in.
"Simple. In line with our values, if Bangor University does not believe in free speech, then British taxpayers should not have to fund them," he said.
"Perhaps remove all Government funding and no student loans for Bangor students... The phone will ring very soon."
Wes Streeting directly accused of leadership coup attempt as it's revealed 'he spoke to Anas Sarwar BEFORE scathing anti-Starmer speech'
Wes Streeting has been accused of running a leadership coup attempt against Sir Keir Starmer
|GETTY
Wes Streeting has been accused of running a leadership coup attempt against Sir Keir Starmer.
In a bombshell new revelation, the Health Secretary is said to have spoken to Scottish Labour chief Anas Sarwar - just days before he demanded the Prime Minister resign.
The pair, according to The Telegraph, are thought to have discussed the "current political situation".
Mr Streeting released a tranche of his private messages with Lord Mandelson - including ones attacking Sir Keir's plans for growth - in what has been seen as a way to get ahead of any potential future scandal if he made a run for Labour leader.
Last night, a left-wing Labour source blasted: "Everyone from the PM down to the most junior bag carrier knows who was behind the McChicken Coup. And his name rhymes with Les Weeting."
The "McChicken Coup" is the name for alleged efforts to use Morgan McSweeney's resignation to make the PM step down.
One MP said: "Today's events were so clearly manipulated and co-ordinated by the Wes Streeting campaign, but they catastrophically failed when he bottled it.
"He doesn't have the kind of support he thinks he does and today proves it, not least because of his very close and long-standing relationship with Peter Mandelson."
A spokesman for the Health Secretary said he "did not ask" Mr Sarwar to attack the PM and "did not coordinate with Anas on this".
"Anas is the leader of the Scottish Labour Party. He is his own man, and Wes has the highest respect for him," they continued. "At the same time as Wes was in an interview saying that Keir needed a chance to set out his case and his plan, No10 was briefing that Wes had told Anas Sarwar to make his statement. This is the problem."
RECAP: Keir Starmer emerges victorious - what did he tell Labour MPs?
The PM addressed the Parliamentary Labour Party on Monday evening to rally the troops
|PA
Keir Starmer last night insisted he would not be forced from office as he faced down Labour lawmakers at a tense meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party, declaring: “I have won every fight I've ever been in.”
“I fought to change the Crown Prosecution Service so it better served victims of violence against women and girls. I fought to change the Labour party to allow us to win an election again,” he said.
“People told me I couldn't do it… We won with a landslide majority. Every fight I've been in, I have won.”
The Prime Minister made clear he would not resign, telling colleagues he would not walk away from the mandate he had secured from the country.
He promised changes to his Downing Street operation that would go beyond “who sits where in No10”, conceding that relations with MPs had not been sufficiently “open” or “inclusive”.
Admitting that “things haven’t gone right”, he repeated that appointing Lord Mandelson had been wrong and said he took full responsibility.
Sir Keir also paid tribute to his former chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, who quit this week, and urged Labour to “take the fight” to Reform UK, insisting he had “the most working-class Cabinet in history” behind him.
INSIGHT: Jake Berry gives GB News glimpse 'inside the war room' where Keir Starmer is fighting for his political survival
Former Tory Chairman Sir Jake Berry last night delivered GB News viewers a key insight into the “war room” scenario Sir Keir Starmer faced on Monday.
Sir Jake - experienced in Cabinet crises - said the PM will have been delivering a desperate plea to his backbench MPs to convince them he remains the man for the job.
The Prime Minister yesterday held a meeting with Labour MPs after getting his Cabinet to deliver public statements reaffirming their commitment.
But the ex-Tory heavyweight said Sir Keir’s decision to hold showdown talks was a telltale sign of a “dead duck” Prime Minister...