Burnham confirms he won't accept a cabinet job in Starmer's government

Sir Keir Starmer told ITV News his government is just two years into its five-year mandate, and that he remains ‘motivated only to serve’, as political editor Robert Peston reports

Sir Keir Starmer said if Labour wins Makerfield, he would offer Andy Burnham a cabinet job and said “I want him to have a big role in government”.

Burnham has since confirmed he will not be taking any government role that may be offered to him by Starmer.

If he returns to Westminster as an MP, Burnham is widely expected to challenge Starmer for leadership and could trigger a contest as early as Friday.

Earlier on Wednesday, the PM warned Burnham against launching an immediate leadership challenge, instead asking him and the Labour party to focus on the election of a new Greater Manchester Mayor.

Speaking to journalists at the G7 summit, Starmer warned Burnham to not challenge him for leadership.

He said that if Burnham wins the Makerfield by-election, his focus should instead be on helping the party win the Manchester mayoralty again, calling it “one of the biggest by-elections that we’ve ever fought”.

A by-election for the mayoralty would likely to be at the start of August.

Starmer said: “It’s really important to my mind that the whole of the Labour Party and Labour movement focuses on that, which is the next most immediate task.”

The PM told reporters that “first and foremost, I want Andy Burnham to win”, but made it clear he did not want that victory to spark a leadership challenge.

He said: “I don’t think there should be a challenge.

“I think history, particularly the last government, shows that that isn’t a successful way for a government to behave.”

Despite warning against any leadership battles, Starmer went on to say that he will not walk away from a leadership contest if one is called.

He said: “if there is a challenge, then I intend to fight”.

Under Labour party rules, any challenger must gather public support from at least 81 MPs but the current leader does not need this and can stand regardless.

Wes Streeting has repeatedly said he has the required backing from MPs and has indicated he would trigger a leadership context as early as next week.

This comes on the final day of the G7 summit where Starmer has been meeting with world leaders to discuss Ukraine and Iran.

The pressure has been mounting on the prime minister in terms of defence spending after the shock resignation of his Defence Secretary, John Healey on Thursday.

Starmer told ITV News’ Political Editor Robert Peston that he “disagrees” with Healey that the current military spending plans are not enough.

He also said that Trump’s Iran deal was a “good thing”.