Andy Burnham says he will end culture of briefing against female ministers

Andy Burnham is likely to face pressure to appoint a high number of female cabinet ministers, especially if he replaces Rachel Reeves as chancellor with a man. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Andy Burnham has said he will end the culture of briefing against female ministers, promising Labour MPs he will sack any staff who undermine women in his team.

Speaking at a meeting of the women’s parliamentary Labour party in Westminster, Burnham also strongly criticised descriptions of him as “the first female Labour PM” in the Spectator magazine.