YouGov poll finds 47 per cent say Greater Manchester mayor would be their first choice for prime minister
New polling has shown the Greater Manchester mayor – who needs to become an MP before he can challenge the prime minister – is the preferred candidate for the top job among Labour members and would win a leadership contest.
Figures collected by YouGov found that 59 per cent said they would back the mayor, while only 37 per cent would support Sir Keir Starmer.
In an interview with The Independent, however, London mayor Sadiq Khan has reiterated his support for Sir Keir and said now was “not the time” for a leadership contest.
The prime minister has been accused of attempting to undermine Mr Burnham by raising the prospect of the UK rejoining the EU “years down the line”.
Mr Burnham has attempted to distance himself from his previous Remain stance and his desire to reverse the 2016 referendum, given that he is standing in the Makerfield by-election, a constituency that voted Leave.
- It was also revealed in The Independent that Labour MPs have been told by allies of Sir Keir that Mr Burnham could bring back former leader Jeremy Corbyn, who was expelled in 2024 in a row over antisemitism.