The UK Prime Minister is reportedly considering a strategy to disrupt an uncontested leadership transition within the Labour Party by covertly backing Wes Streeting’s bid to challenge Andy Burnham. Sources suggest that Sir Keir Starmer may encourage loyal ministers to support Streeting in order to help him secure the 81 parliamentary nominations required to initiate a formal leadership contest.

The move comes amid rising pressure on Starmer from Burnham, the former Manchester mayor, who is reportedly seeking to become prime minister without facing a leadership election. Starmer’s close advisers believe that an open contest would expose Burnham’s perceived inconsistency in political positioning, potentially forcing him to clarify whether he aligns more closely with the party’s Left or Right factions.

Burnham’s team is understood to prefer avoiding a protracted leadership election, particularly if a candidate positioned left of Burnham, such as Angela Rayner, were to endorse a challenge. However, some within the party argue that Rayner’s influence has waned recently, notably following the outcome of the Makerfield by-election. A senior Labour figure commented that Rayner “has much less power now Andy’s won so comprehensively.”

Allies of Streeting have denied knowledge of any coordinated efforts by the Prime Minister’s office to aid his candidacy, emphasizing that Streeting already enjoys sufficient support to mount a campaign independently. Meanwhile, Downing Street has formally denied reports that the Prime Minister has devised plans to assist Streeting in securing nominations for a leadership contest.

Sources close to the Prime Minister describe the approach as a calculated, albeit risky, effort to leverage “Wes’s vanity” as a means of prompting a challenge to Burnham’s presumed leadership coronation. One Starmer loyalist described the plan as “terrible” but suggested it was the only viable option remaining to prevent Burnham from ascending unopposed.

The potential leadership contest could last up to two months, reflecting the time required to gather nominations and conduct the ensuing election process within the parliamentary party. The unfolding situation underscores mounting tensions within Labour as factions jockey for influence ahead of a possible transition in party leadership.