ANDY Burnham is considering holding a snap general election if he becomes PM, The Sun on Sunday can reveal.
He is also lining up Home Secretary to be his Chancellor, Labour insiders believe.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham speaks at the launch of his by-election campaign in Ashton-in-Makerfield Credit: AFP
is the narrow favourite to win the next month and make a bombshell return to Westminster.
He will then challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the leadership and keys to No10 – declaring only he can beat Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.
Some in Team think he should capitalise on Labour’s expected poll bounce to call an early election.
This would let him get his own mandate from voters to enact radical policies in No10, they believe.
But others in his camp have warned him that Labour MPs will not tolerate an early election as many would expect to lose their seats – even if the party gets a majority.
PM Keir Starmer visits Acton Works a training facility in Chiswick, west London to meet apprentices Credit: Simon Jones
A senior Labour source said: “Andy considering an early general election. They are wargaming it.
“But Labour MPs would absolutely hate it. They are worried about losing their seats.
“If becomes PM I expect he will have to promise the PLP (Parliamentary Labour Party) that he will not call a snap election.
“They will want him to sign the pledge in blood.”
The is the narrow favourite to win the by-election next month and make his long-anticipated return to Westminster.
He will then challenge Sir Keir for the Labour leadership. He could be PM by summer, despite not even standing on Labour’s landslide winning 2024 manifesto.
has used his appearances on the campaign trail to launch a string of fiery attacks on Sir Keir and the way Labour and the country have been run for generations.
The wannabe PM has said Britain has been on the “wrong path” of “neolibersliam” for the past 40 years and called for more state control of industries.
He has also called for Labour to get back in touch with its working class roots.
The Sun on Sunday understands that and his team have started drawing up plans for his first months as PM.
Buckingham Palace has reportedly been contacted to check they would not have any objections if another was held this year.
A new PM would have to pen another if they wanted to bring in different Bills and policies.
is expected to carry out a sweeping Cabinet reshuffle if he does seize Downing Street.
Ms Mahmood, the current Home Secretary, is expected to be made Chancellor.
She was one of the Cabinet ministers who went in to see in No10 and told him to set out a timetable to quit in showdown talks earlier this month.
The Sun on Sunday has been told that talks between Shabana’s team and Mr Burnham had been going on for a while.
Lucy Powell and are both expected to be brought back into the Cabinet with big jobs.
is being advised by Sue Gray – former chief of staff who was fired from the job after only a few months.
Her treatment sparked accusations that Starmer’s regime was running a “boys club”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is being lined up to be Andy Burnham’s Chancellor, party insiders believe Credit: Getty
A senior party source said: is meant to have done a deal with Andy to be his Chancellor.
“That is why she let it be known she had told Keir to go. She was manoeuvring to get a big job.”
Josh Simons, the Labour MP who quit his Makerfield seat so could have a shot at returning to Westminster, is also expected to get a job.
Insiders believe Mr Simons is expecting to get out into Downing Street in a big policy job, but is more likely to be put in the House of Lords.
Mr Burnham’s team declined to comment.
Source close to said: “Nonsense. There are no deals being made.
“Shabana is entirely focused on her job as Home Secretary.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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