Labour’s deputy leader Lucy Powell will say Andy Burnham, Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner should all be seen as “key players” in the party in a speech on Friday.
Powell will also repeat her support for Burnham’s efforts to return to Parliament after Josh Simons, the MP for Makerfield, said he would stand aside to let the Greater Manchester mayor run for the seat in a by-election.
She will say she is confident Burnham will have the support of the “vast majority of the party and movement” to make a bid to come back to Westminster.
Powell was the only member of Labour’s ruling body to vote in favour of allowing Burnham to stand in a by-election in Gorton and Denton earlier this year, but he was blocked from doing so and the Greens took the seat.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will not seek to block Burnham from standing this time around, it is understood, but it is not yet guaranteed that he will be chosen as the candidate.
Burnham eyes Westminster return – and Starmer won’t block him Powell ‘confident’ Burnham will have support of majority in Labour Sort: Newest first Oldest first May 15, 2026 7:29 amBurnham eyes Westminster return – and Starmer won’t block him
The Mayor of Greater Manchester said he wanted to return to Westminster to “make politics work properly for people” after Josh Simons, the Labour MP for Makerfield, said he would stand down so Burnham can “drive the change our country is crying out for”.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is seen as one of the front-runners in any future Labour leadership race to succeed Sir Keir Starmer (Photo: Justin Tallis/AFP)
Earlier on Thursday, Wes Streeting resigned as health secretary, while former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner revealed that she had been cleared by HMRC of deliberate wrongdoing over her tax affairs, clearing the path for a potential tilt at the top job.
But by lunchtime on Thursday, only Streeting, who was later replaced by former chief secretary to the Treasury James Murray, had quit the Government.
It is still unclear whether Streeting has the support of 81 Labour MPs as needed to launch a formal challenge against the Prime Minister.
May 15, 2026 7:26 amPowell ‘confident’ Burnham will have support of majority in Labour
Powell will also repeat her support for Burnham’s efforts to return to Parliament after Josh Simons, the MP for Makerfield, said he would stand aside to let the Greater Manchester mayor run for the seat in a by-election.
Lucy Powell arrives at Downing Street to attend the weekly cabinet meeting (Photo: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Powell was the only member of Labour’s ruling body to vote in favour of allowing Burnham to stand in a by-election in Gorton and Denton earlier this year, but he was blocked from doing so and the Greens took the seat.
Powell is expected to tell the Fire Brigades’ Union conference: “The election results last week were deeply painful and difficult for our party, and the aftermath has been unedifying for us all too.
“Keir is the leader, and I warned against bloody internal battles reflecting badly.”
May 15, 2026 7:23 amGood morning – and welcome back
Sir Keir Starmer has survived another day in Downing Street – but potential leadership rivals are circling.
Starmer will not seek to block Burnham from standing this time around, it is understood, but it is not yet guaranteed that he will be chosen as the candidate for Labour.
We’ll have all the latest news and reaction from Westminster throughout the day.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and former health secretary Wes Streeting attend a campaign event at Three Counties Medical School in 2024 (Photo: Getty)Hence then, the article about deputy leader calls for burnham streeting and rayner to be key players for labour was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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