Burnham to bid to return as MP as pressure mounts on Starmer

Labour's deputy leader Lucy Powell was expected to tell the Fire Brigades' Union conference that Burnham, Streeting and Rayner should be key players in Labour's team.

The article notes that no leadership challenge had been triggered at that time, though there was ongoing speculation about leadership and calls for a broad contest.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the party would throw absolutely everything at Labour after Labour's poor showing in the recent council elections in the area.

Angela Rayner announced she had resolved £40,000 in unpaid stamp duty with HMRC, saying she had been exonerated of the accusation of deliberately avoiding tax. She also said she did not rule out running in any Labour leadership race but would not trigger a contest.

Andy Burnham said he would seek Labour's candidacy in Makerfield and pledged to bring the change he has delivered in Greater Manchester to the UK, while stressing he would not take votes for granted and would work to regain trust in the north-west constituency.

Labour MP Josh Simons announced he would resign to make way for Andy Burnham to stand in Makerfield.

Downing Street announced James Murray would be Streeting's successor as health secretary, moving from his role as chief secretary to the Treasury.

Wes Streeting resigns as health secretary, becoming the first cabinet minister to resign in the current period, saying he had lost confidence in Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership.

Labour's National Executive Committee blocked Andy Burnham from contesting the Gorton and Denton by-election in February, a by-election Labour subsequently lost to the Green Party.