Andy Burnham has met with Sir Keir Starmer in secret as he prepares his campaign to be Labour’s next leader.
The outgoing prime minister and his likely successor had an hour-long “off site” meeting earlier on Tuesday, believed to be the first time the pair have spoken since before the contest last week, which enabled Mr Burnham to return to Westminster.
Downing Street confirmed earlier that Sir Keir agreed prospective leadership candidates, including Mr Burnham, would be allowed to receive government briefings to prepare for power as soon as possible.
It comes as the prime minister is set to publish his defence plan in front of a Nato summit despite his resignation on Monday.
David Lammy said it “will deliver another unprecedented increase in defence spending” when it is published.
But the plan is likely to cause a headache for his successor after it triggered the resignations of defence secretary John Healey and former armed forces minister Al Carns. Mr Healey accused the Treasury of being “unwilling to commit the resources that the nation needs”.
Key Points
- Starmer and Burnham hold hour-long talks for first time since by-election
- Al Carns refuses to rule out running for Labour leadership
- Labour MPs consider leadership challenge to stop Burnham coronation
- Trump repeats claims Starmer 'is no Churchill'
- What have other party leaders said about Starmer's resignation?
Defence secretary says defence plan won't be delayed by political uncertainty
18:00 , Bryony Gooch
Defence secretary Dan Jarvis confirmed the political uncertainty in No 10 would not delay the defence investment plan (Dip).
He told a conference organised by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank: “There will now be a change of prime minister.
“There will be no change in the urgent need to produce the defence investment plan.
“The Dip is a significant, detailed, and vast piece of work.
“The Department has been working on it for 12 months.
“I have had 12 days, but I have made the most of all of them, and I am now working to finalise and publish the Dip before I travel to Ankara (for the Nato summit) with the Prime Minister.”
New MP appears to cross fingers swearing allegiance to King in Parliament
17:45 , Bryony Gooch
New MP Lara Bird appears to cross fingers swearing allegiance to King in Parliament
Who is Bev Craig? Andy Burnham's potential successor
17:43 , Bryony Gooch
Bev Craig currently serves as a deputy mayor in Greater Manchester with a portfolio covering the economy, business and “inclusive growth”.
She became leader of Manchester City Council in December 2021, succeeding the long-serving Sir Richard Leese in the post.
Originally from Northern Ireland, 41-year-old Ms Craig moved to Greater Manchester aged 18.
She is the city’s first female council leader and its first LGBT leader.
Labour candidate for Greater Manchester mayor announced
17:32 , Bryony Gooch
Bev Craig, the leader of Manchester City Council, has been announced as Labour’s candidate in the Greater Manchester mayoral election, after former mayor Andy Burnham returned to Parliament with a view to replace Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister.
Recap: Sir Lindsay Hoyle rebukes senior Tory MP for calling defence secretary a coward
17:30 , Bryony Gooch
Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has twice rebuked a former Conservative minister for calling defence secretary Dan Jarvis a coward.
Sir Lindsay said he was “offended” by the language, pointing out that Mr Jarvis has served as an officer in the Army.
On Monday last week, Father of the House Sir Edward Leigh criticised the Defence Secretary for not being in the Commons to answer questions about the Defence Investment Plan (Dip).
He said: “When the nation is at risk and the Leader of the opposition asks a question, it is frankly cowardly for the Secretary of State not to turn up. His duty is to be here in our house of commons.”
Sir Lindsay intervened: “Order. I say to the Father of the House that the King has summoned the Secretary of State, and he is with the King at the moment.
“The language he has used about the Secretary of State being cowardly is not called for, and I expect better from the Father of the House.”
Meet ‘action man’ Al Carns – the man who could challenge Andy Burnham for the top job
17:00 , Bryony Gooch
Meet Al Carns: the man who might challenge Andy Burnham for the keys to Number 10
Starmer and Burnham hold hour-long talks for first time since by-election
16:04 , Bryony Gooch
The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
Sir Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham have met and spoken for the first time since the former Manchester mayor’s by-election victory in Makerfield.
The outgoing prime minister and his likely successor had an hour-long “off site” meeting earlier today.It is believed to be the first time the pair have spoken since before the contest last week, which enabled Mr Burnham to return to Westminster.
Downing Street confirmed earlier that Sir Keir agreed prospective leadership candidates, including Mr Burnham, would be allowed to receive government briefings to prepare for power as soon as possible.
The prime minister told his Cabinet he wanted an “orderly transition” and insisted he would try to make the transition “as easy as possible” for his replacement at a weekly meeting on Tuesday morning.
Watch: 'I can spend it on cars if I want to', Farage says as he faces grilling over £5m gift
16:00 , Bryony Gooch
No 'major' policy decisions to be made during leadership transition
15:40 , Bryony Gooch
Downing Street has said no “major” new policy decisions or spending pledges would be made during the leadership transition, adding that Sir Keir Starmer would agree priorities with cabinet secretary dame Antonia Romeo in the coming days.
But the defence investment plan (Dip), which has been delayed for months amid wrangling within government over its funding, is one loose end he intends to tie up before leaving office.
His plans to publish the document before the Nato summit on 7 July have the potential to cause friction after The Times reported allies of Mr Burnham believe the decision should fall to the next leader.
Burnham to receive government briefings to prepare for power
15:20 , Bryony Gooch
Labour leadership frontrunner Andy Burnham will start receiving government briefings to prepare for power as the outgoing prime minister insisted he would seek to “resolve difficult issues” before his successor takes over.
Sir Keir Starmer has authorised civil service access talks to begin with “prospective candidates” in the coming weeks ahead of the change in No 10, Downing Street said.
The prime minister told his cabinet he wanted an “orderly transition” and insisted he would try to make the transition “as easy as possible” for his replacement at a weekly meeting on Tuesday morning.
He said he would “seek to resolve difficult issues in the coming weeks to support his successor”, and “wanted whoever became the next prime minister to succeed”, according to the readout.
Reeves nominates Haskel for top OBR role
14:37 , Joe Middleton
The chancellor has nominated former Bank of England rate-setter Jonathan Haskel to take over as chairman of the government’s official forecaster.
Mr Haskel, who sat on the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee between 2018 and 2024, is the preferred candidate to take the top role at the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).
He is set to take the position after former chairman Richard Hughes resigned last December over the mistaken early publication of its forecasts.
Mr Hughes apologised after the OBR had inadvertently released its analysis of the budget early, revealing key details of Rachel Reeves’ autumn statement before she had delivered it.
Watch: 'I can spend it on cars if I want to', Farage says as he faces grilling over £5m gift
14:32 , Joe Middleton
Will Britain go to the polls? Why some people want Burnham to call a general election
14:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Four years ago, after yet another prime minister resigned, angry opposition MPs demanded a general election.
The official Opposition party at that stage, of course, as Liz Truss left office, was Keir Starmer’s Labour.
Now, as he prepares to depart Downing Street, the calls from his own benches for voters to be given a say have fallen rather more silent.
There is no constitutional requirement for a general election to accompany a change of prime minister. But PMs have, on occasion, decided to hold an election soon after entering No 10.
Here we look at whether there will be a vote in the next few months – and why some people are arguing there should be one.
Will Britain go to the polls? Why some people want Burnham to call a snap election
Reeves vows that defence plan will 'meet the moment'
13:49 , Holly Evans
Rachel Reeves has vowed the Defence Investment Plan (Dip) will “meet the moment”, having previously been warned a planned funding envelope “falls well short of what is required”.
The Chancellor also said she was “confident” the defence spending plan would be published before this year’s Nato summit, which begins on July 7.
The summit in Ankara, Turkey, had previously been touted by ministers as their deadline for unveiling the strategy.
If the Government meets its deadline, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, who announced his resignation on Monday, will still be in post when it is published.
Deputy prime minister David Lammy on Monday also vowed to meet the Nato summit deadline.
“I can confirm that the Dip will be published before the Nato summit,” he told MPs.
“And I think it is important that the prime minister is in post for that Nato summit.”
Inside the ‘sad and angry’ scenes at Chequers – and why it’s Victoria Starmer I feel sorry for now
13:45 , Holly Evans
It was the husk in his voice as Keir Starmer talked about “my rock” (his wife, Lady Victoria) and his beautiful children – “my pride and joy” – that finally showed his humanity. As he rattled off a list of his arguable “achievements” in office, I had been thinking – just go, we’ve all had enough of you. But just like the “aaah, bless” moment when Gordon Brown left No 10 hand in hand with his sweet little boys, the chink of Starmer’s emotional hinterland made me feel for him.
And then I thought of his super loyal wife. Poor Keir? Poor Vic, more like.
It was fitting that at the end it was his wife whom he called his rock, the one person who was left in the bunker with her beleaguered husband. By all accounts, she was the one whispering into his ear at the weekend, she and the couple’s old friend, the MP Carolyn Harris. An insider told me the scene at Chequers this weekend was “very sad and angry”. I’m not surprised.
Read the full analysis from Eleanor Mills here:
Forget Keir’s teary goodbye – it’s Victoria Starmer I feel sorry for now
Who is likely to be out of a job?
13:30 , Holly Evans
Our political correspondents say:
There is a chance of wholesale change in Andy Burnham’s cabinet which means some surprising figures could be out. Deputy prime minister David Lammy, a close ally of Sir Keir, is widely expected to find himself on the backbenches.
There is also speculation that Mr Burnham would move on from the Morgan McSweeney allies – notably welfare secretary Pat McFadden and housing secretary Steve Reed, even though both are seen as highly competent.
Meanwhile, tech secretary Liz Kendall – who failed previously in the welfare job – is unlikely to land a role in any Burnham cabinet.
One of the issues may be what he would do with the current foreign secretary Yvette Cooper, who was early in telling Starmer that he needed to go. She is likely to survive a potential cull but would likely end up in a different job.
One thing, though, that is always true about new cabinet selections is that there are always surprise names which emerge.
But it may only be a few weeks until we find out.
Starmer defies Burnham over defence spending plan
13:15 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou writes:
Sir Keir Starmer may have paved the way for a row with his potential successor over the publication of his long-awaited Defence Investment Plan (DIP).
Andy Burnham’s team have reportedly said they want the spending plan to be delayed, so the former mayor of Manchester can have the final say on the matter himself.
But the outgoing prime minister has insisted he will be sticking to his previous timetable on its publication, which is still set to be before the Nato summit in Turkey on July 7.
It comes despite Sir Keir having agreed that there will be no new major policy or spending commitments initiated during the period of government transition.
Al Carns says Burnham leadership without a plan could become a 'nightmare pretty quickly'
13:00 , Holly Evans
The second potential rival to Andy Burnham is former Royal Marines officer Mr Carns, who is making up his mind whether to launch a leadership campaign.
He told journalists at the Foreign Press Association in London that he had not ruled out running.
He said Mr Burnham would “listen” to the Parliamentary Labour Party and “he’ll take advice on policy ideas, and hopefully he’ll be able to drive them forward at a pace and with the boldness and courageousness that is required to keep that social cohesion and make us successful in the 2029 general election”.
But he said: “A vision without a plan is a dream and if you don’t have it, it can turn into a nightmare pretty quickly.”
Asked whether he would launch his own leadership bid, he said: “A decision is often based on multiple factors. I just need to see and buy into that vision and that policy and then we’ll see where we go from there.
Andy Burnham allowed to take part in Civil Service access talks
12:56 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou writes:
Prospective Labour leadership candidates will be allowed to take part in access talks ahead of Sir Keir Starmer’s last day in office.
Downing Street confirmed the outgoing prime minister has agreed with cabinet secretary that Civil Service access talks can take place with candidates, which would include Andy Burnham.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said these would take place “as soon as possible” and before formal nominations close.
According to the cabinet manual, access talks with prospective candidates will focus on formation of government and key policy priorities, to enable the civil service to "prepare for any outcome".
Who would be Burnham’s chancellor if he becomes prime minister?
12:45 , Holly Evans
After the prime minister, the role of chancellor is the most important role in government and Mr Burnham’s pick would be the biggest sign of a change of direction from Sir Keir.
It looks almost certain that Rachel Reeves, the current chancellor, would be out of the Treasury – and probably out of government altogether. Along with her would go her economic policy and perhaps her tight borrowing rules – although Mr Burnham has already said he will stick by them.
There are three names being widely discussed to be Mr Burnham’s prospective chancellor – former health secretary Wes Streeting, energy secretary Ed Miliband and home secretary Shabana Mahmood.
These names represent very different approaches to the economy with Ms Mahmood on the right of the party, Mr Streeting the Blairite centrist and Mr Miliband a leading figure on the soft left.
Mr Miliband has been hankering for the job for some time and is a leading contender.
But The Independent revealed over the weekend that Mr Streeting had been asking for the role as part of a deal to drop from his own leadership bid – which he did on Monday.
Both Mr Streeting and Mr Miliband would, in their own ways, be divisive choices. Mr Streeting is deeply distrusted by the left of the party while Mr Miliband’s hard line on net zero policies have made him a controversial figure.
Ms Mahmood is said to want the job and may emerge as the compromise candidate in that scenario. It would also give Mr Burnham a chance to get her out of the Home Office so he could tweak the immigration policy.
That said, with people like Nick Thomas-Symonds and Darren Jones also on the scene, there may end up being a surprise name in the mix.
Starmer vows to make transition of power ‘as easy as possible’
12:43 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou writes:
The prime minister has told his Cabinet he will seek to make the transition of power in No 10 “as easy as possible”, Downing Street said.
Sir Keir Starmer said on Tuesday that he would “seek to resolve difficult issues in the coming weeks to support his successor”, who is widely believed to be Andy Burnham.
He thanked his Cabinet for their “hard work” and told them “he wanted whoever became the next prime minister to succeed”.
”The prime minister said he'd seek to make the transition as easy as possible, giving his full support to whoever followed in his footsteps,” his official spokesperson said.
Starmer tells Cabinet he will seek to 'resolve difficult issues' to make transition 'as easy as possible'
12:38 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Sir Keir Starmer told his Cabinet that he would “seek to resolve difficult issues in the coming weeks to support his successor” and make the transition of leadership “as easy as possible,” Downing Street has said.
A spokesperson added he has also agreed with cabinet secretary Dame Antonia Romeo that the Civil Services access talks can take place with prospective candidates to succeed him.
The hospital scandal the Labour hopeful would rather forget
12:30 , Holly Evans
The memory of the last weeks of her mother’s life is seared onto the brain of Deb Hazeldine, 56 years old. Ellen Linstead was 67 years old, in remission from bone cancer, when she was admitted to Mid Stafford Hospital in September 2006 for physiotherapy following a fall at home.
“I was not even on the ward yet, I was in the [hospital] corridor, and I heard mum screaming, and I dropped my bag and ran to her,” Deb remembers today, talking from her car. “I got into her room, she was half on the floor and she was half on the commode, and she grabbed hold of my hand, and she said, ‘Please, Deb, don’t let me die in here.’”
Read the full story from our health correspondent Rebecca Thomas here:
The hospital scandal that could come back to haunt Andy Burnham
Reeves says she is 'confident' defence investment plan will be released before Nato summit
12:11 , Holly Evans
Rachel Reeves has said the Defence Investment Plan (Dip) “will meet the scale of the challenges facing the country”, and added she is “confident” it will be published before the Nato summit which begins on July 7.
The chancellor told MPs she met on Monday with defence secretary Dan Jarvis and chief of the defence staff Sir Richard Knighton “to talk through the Dip”.
Speaking in the Commons, she added: “The Ministry of Defence are producing the Dip that will meet the scale of the challenges and meet the moment with increased readiness.
“I am confident that the new Dip will be published before the Nato Ankara summit.
“It will involve more money spent more effectively and will meet the scale of challenges facing our country.”
When former defence secretary John Healey resigned earlier this month, he wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer that the Dip financial settlement he was offered “falls well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time”.
What Andy Burnham as prime minister might mean for your mortgage, taxes and money
11:56 , Holly Evans
Keir Starmer resignation as prime minister leaves a vacancy in the leadership of Labour and the nation – with Andy Burnham widely considered a frontrunner to step into the role.
A landslide win of the Makerfield by-election last week put Mr Burnham in line to challenge for prime minister and, if he is, Brits will want to quickly know what that might mean for their finances.
We’ve all seen politicians say they plan to do one thing, and ultimately be incapable or unwilling to make it happen – so it remains to be seen if Mr Burnham in No 10 would be able to replicate the success he has seen as mayor of Greater Manchester.
Here, The Independent takes a look at how your pocket might be affected if Mr Burnham becomes prime minister.
Read the full analysis here:
What Andy Burnham as prime minister might mean for your money
Labour MP shares picture of Starmer after resignation
11:41 , Holly Evans
A Labour MP has shared a picture of Sir Keir Starmer after he announced he will resign as prime minister.
Sir Keir held a reception in Downing Streeting on Monday evening to thank staff and MPs for their support.
The MP for South Derbyshire, Samantha Niblett, has shared a selfie from the event and said he remained as “gracious and kind as he always is”.
I saw the Prime Minister in Number 10 yesterday.
— Samantha Niblett MP (@SamanthaNiblet4) June 23, 2026
He was as gracious and kind as he always is as he addressed some of us to thank us for our support.
His focus is on helping whoever takes on the role from him. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/yzTJirMepk
Angela Rayner talks up record as housing secretary
11:32 , Holly Evans
Angela Rayner said she had “dug my heels in” over funding for social housing while she was in Government and “the Treasury won’t thank me, but I’d do it all over again”.
The former deputy prime minister said a “huge number” of children were living in temporary accommodation and families in poverty were struggling to keep a roof over their heads.
Talking up her record as housing secretary before her resignation, she said “it’s why I dug my heels in, demanded £39 billion for social and affordable housing and the Treasury won’t thank me, and I was the last one to settle on my budget, but I’d do it all over again”.
Speaking at the Social Mobility Symposium on Tuesday, she also defended people receiving welfare support who she said are “not lazy people on the dole, they’re working families who cant keep up”.
“If you’re working full time you should be able to pay your energy bill, do the weekly shop and maybe even afford a little holiday at the end of the year,” she said.
She praised the Labour Government’s move to lift the two-child benefit cap, adding: “That’s not something we should be shy about. It’s not something that we should hide away from. We should have the courage to say that those are our values and we stand by them.”
Reform's Tice calls for general election 'within six months'
11:20 , Holly Evans
The deputy leader of Reform UK has said that Andy Burnham should call a general election “within six months” if he becomes prime minister.
Richard Tice told Sky News that previous prime ministers, such as Boris Johnson and Theresa May, had both called a general election within a matter of months after taking over from their predecessors.
Mr Tice argued it should take place "within six months because there is a November budget coming towards us like a steam train, where if he wants to enact his plans, he's going to have to heavily raise taxes or leverage up the country's balance sheet significantly more".
Al Carns refuses to rule out running for Labour leadership
11:05 , Holly Evans
Former Armed Forces minister Al Carns has told reporters he has not ruled out the possibility of running for the Labour leadership.
Speculation has been mounting that both he and Sir Keir Starmer’s chief secretary Darren Jones are mulling the possibility of entering the contest.
Mr Carns resigned from his position alongside defence secretary John Healey over their disappointment with proposed funding for the Defence Investment Plan earlier this month.
Meet ‘action man’ Al Carns – the man who could challenge Andy Burnham for the top job
10:51 , Holly Evans
Following Keir Starmer’s resignation announcement on Monday, the prospect of an Andy Burnham premiership is being treated as something of a foregone conclusion – despite the fact that the new MP for Makerfield had only returned to the House of Commons that very same day, after spending the best part of a decade as the mayor of Greater Manchester. But Burnham could still face a fight for the keys to Downing Street.
A small number of MPs are reportedly considering a leadership run to avoid a “coronation” of Burnham, and to make sure that his policy ideas are challenged.
One of these potential opponents is Al Carns, the 45-year-old former Royal Marine turned MP for Birmingham’s Selly Oak constituency. One of the 243 new Labour MPs who arrived in parliament in 2024 following Starmer’s victory, he made headlines earlier this month when he resigned from his role as Armed Forces minister, stating that he could not “in good conscience stand at the dispatch box and defend a level of investment [in defence] I know to be inadequate to the task”.
Read the full analysis here:
Meet Al Carns: the man who might challenge Andy Burnham for the keys to Number 10
Who could Burnham pick for his chancellor and cabinet?
10:25 , Holly Evans
With the prospect of Andy Burnham becoming prime minister now looking inevitable, all eyes are on what his top team could look like.
The former Greater Manchester mayor, who was sworn in as an MP on Monday, will face demands from both inside and outside the Labour Party to generate real change if he makes it into Number 10.
This doesn’t just mean changes to policy, but also changes to the cabinet – with Mr Burnham likely to choose a team that reflects a broader range of views from within the party than the narrow one represented by Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet.
Mr Burnham would, of course, have close allies who he will want to reward with top jobs. But if he gets to the point of naming his cabinet, it will be one role more than any other that will shape his government – his pick as chancellor.
Here, The Independent looks at who might be in the running for a cabinet put together by Mr Burnham.
Who could Burnham pick for his chancellor and cabinet?
Andy Burnham is the 'recipe the country needs', Scotland secretary says
10:03 , Holly Evans
Scotland’s secretary of state has said that Andy Burnham’s experience is “the recipe the country needs” as the former Manchester mayor reveals a leadership bid for prime minister.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast on Tuesday, Douglas Alexander said that Mr Burnham’s success was not only that “he’s shown himself to be a winner”.
He said: “I don’t think it’s simply that he’s shown himself to be a winner, particularly in Makerfield, against Reform and the very dark and dangerous future that I think Reform will (be) for the country, but also in Manchester he’s demonstrated that economic efficiency and social justice aren’t enemies but can be allies.
“Whether it’s the work that he’s done in terms of tackling homelessness, whether it’s cutting bus fares in relation to addressing the cost of living, or whether it’s just the dynamism of the Manchester economy.
“There’s one figure that comes to mind, I mean, Glasgow is the city of my birth. It takes about 58 weeks to get a planning application through in Glasgow. It takes just 18 weeks in Manchester.
“We need that kind of supply side reform to get our economy strengthened and moving forward in the years ahead.
“So I think Andy is not just one of our most experienced political leaders, he was in the cabinet previously in Westminster, but I think has learned a huge amount away from Westminster and Manchester, but I think that combination of economic generalism and social justice is the recipe that the country needs.”
Starmer’s resignation was ‘very sad’, Badenoch says
09:50 , Athena Stavrou
Kemi Badenoch said Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation speech this week was “very sad”.
The leader of the opposition said “the whole Labour Party” played a role in the outgoing prime minister’s downfall, claiming they “held him hostage” and “wouldn't let him make some of the tough decisions that he did need to make”.
Asked if she felt for Sir Keir yesterday, she told BBC Breakfast: “Of course I did.
“Being prime minister is an extremely difficult job. You and your family are put into the public spotlight, and just to see it end the way it did was, it was very sad. My heart goes out to him and his family on that basis.”
In pictures: Senior Labour MPs arrive for cabinet meeting
09:44 , Holly Evans
Failure to implement Brexit responsible for churn of prime ministers, Nigel Farage says
09:34 , Athena Stavrou
Nigel Farage has blamed the number of ousted prime ministers in the last decade on the failure to implement the 2016 Brexit vote.
The Reform UK leader, who played a key role in the ‘Leave’ campaign, said on Tuesday he “does not regret” the referendum result at all.
Speaking on the ten year anniversary of the vote, and the day after Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation, Mr Farage claimed the referendum “was not accepted by the establishment”.
“That is why you've seen the two-party system as it's historically been known, frankly, under massive attack,” he told the BBC.
“That is why we've had seven prime ministers in the course of the last 10 years.
“They haven't accepted the public vote with goodwill, and they haven't implemented it.”
In pictures: Triumphant Burnham's seflies with Labour MPs
09:18 , Athena Stavrou
Farage admits Makerfield candidate's social media posts 'wasn't pretty, wasn't good, and didn't help’
09:07 , Athena Stavrou
Nigel Farage has admitted his Makerfield candidate’s resurfaced sexist social media posts “didn’t help” the party’s chances in the by-election.
Local plumber Rob Kenyon lost to Andy Burnham by almost 10,000 votes in the contest last week.
During the course of his campaign, online comments in which he claimed women couldn’t “ref, drive or give directions” and declared he was sexist resurfaced.
The Reform UK leader has now admitted the backlash “wasn’t good” and said he did not withdraw him as a candidate partly because it was “too late”.
“We couldn't find these social media posts,” Mr Farage told the BBC. “He's a plumber, a rugby player, ex army, one of the lads, likes a beer, and it was male banter.
“It wasn't pretty, it wasn't good, it didn't help. I will admit that it didn't help.”
Asked why he didn’t withdraw him or get him to apologise for the comments, he said: “Because A) it was too late to withdraw him, B) he was actually a very good, hardworking candidate, a proper local guy.
“And when it comes to the apology, I said, look, Rob, you must decide yourself what you'd like, I can’t force people to apologise.”
Northern leaders say region has been left behind as they condemn Brexiteers over broken promises
08:53 , Holly Evans
In other news, northern leaders have accused Brexit leaders of breaking promises after new figures revealed London is receiving more money than any other UK region.
A key part of the campaign to leave the EU was to spread wealth across the UK with Boris Johnson, who signed the withdrawal agreement six years ago, promising increased investment, better transport and raised living standards as part of the Tories’ post-Brexit policy.
But despite billions of pounds shared out in “Levelling Up” grants, HM Treasury data analysed by The Independent shows that those in the capital benefited from 26 per cent more expenditure than the average person living in the UK in 2024/25.
Read the full article from our reporter Alex Ross here:
Northern leaders say region has been left behind in attack on broken Brexit promises
Farage says public have 'almost no idea' of Burnham's policies
08:45 , Holly Evans
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said if Andy Burnham becomes prime minister next month “he’ll do so with no mandate whatsoever” and the public “deserve a vote”.
Mr Farage said Sir Keir Starmer “left yesterday with no dignity at all”, adding “I found he became petulant, aggressive, rude, insulting”.
Discussing Mr Burnham, the Reform UK leader told GB News: “Politicians have to take positions.
“We, at the moment, have almost no idea where this man stands on anything, he’s flipped and flopped in the last month more than Keir Starmer has in the last two years.”
Mr Farage added: “I’m hoping that Al Carns, or someone like that stands against him, so that over the course of a summer we can actually see what he stands for. At the moment, we haven’t got a clue.
“If he does become prime minister on July 17th, he’ll do so with no mandate whatsoever.
“I think the public are sick to death of the game of musical chairs that’s going on in Downing Street and deserve a vote.”
The Reform UK leader added that his party “can be ready very, very quickly” for a general election.
Cabinet meeting to begin shortly
08:34 , Holly Evans
A cabinet meeting is set to begin at 9am, the first time all senior Labour MPs will be gathered since Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation.
The outgoing prime minister will chair the meeting and will continue to do so until a new leader has been chosen.
Among the first to arrive in his chief secretary Darren Jones, who has reportedly not ruled out his own leadership bid.
Watch: Nick Thomas-Symonds says other Labour MPs are considering leadership bid
08:18 , Holly Evans
Andy Burnham to set out policies in major speech next week
08:05 , Holly Evans
Andy Burnham is set to make a major speech next week to set out key aspects of his economic policy, including confirmation he will stick to the current Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ rules for managing the public finances.
Mr Burnham will begin to set out his policy platform, pledging economic growth and a commitment to Labour’s existing fiscal rules in a speech next week.
Talks are also said to be taking place about who will sit in his Cabinet, with Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood both tipped as potential candidates to replace Ms Reeves as chancellor.
But Mr Burnham’s allies said no jobs had been given and no deals had been made as of Monday evening.
Ms Reeves’ successor would be bound by the rules she set, which aim to restrict borrowing and pay for day-to-day spending out of tax revenues by the end of the decade.
Mr Burnham knows he has to reassure the City of London about his economic plans, having previously caused alarm by saying “we’ve got to get beyond this thing of being in hock to the bond markets”.
Cabinet minister backs Burnham and calls for a 'swift transition'
07:54 , Holly Evans
Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds backed Andy Burnham for the Labour leadership and suggested a contest to replace Sir Keir Starmer would not be in the national interest.
He told Sky News: “I am backing Andy Burnham to succeed Keir. I think, first of all, we have a job of delivery to do in the second half of the Parliament. I think he has shown, Andy, comprehensively as the mayor of Greater Manchester, that he can carry out that job of delivery.
“But secondly, there is the question about leading us into the next general election and defeating Reform and I think Andy Burnham has just shown comprehensively in Makerfield that he can do that, we’ve seen him do it in an election.
“So I’m backing Andy Burnham and, yes, looking for a swift transition.”
Asked if that meant he wanted to avoid a contest, he said: “I just think we have to weigh up what is in the best interests of the country. I am of the view that it needs to be a swift transition, but of course I understand colleagues have difficult decisions to make.”
Ed Davet says he doesn't support calls for a general election
07:37 , Holly Evans
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has said that he doesn't support calls for a general election, as he calls for greater stability.
"I think actually people want to give the new prime minister a chance," he said.
"People will be impatient for change."
Mr Davey added that who ever becomes the new prime minister "has got a very short window where people will give him a chance".
The Lib Dem leader explains: "If he fails, and he for example doesn't follow what we've been saying on Europe or social care or defence, I think people will then demand a general election."
Labour MPs consider leadership challenge to stop Burnham coronation
07:20 , Holly Evans
At least two senior Labour MPs are considering putting their names forward in a leadership contest, to prevent a straight coronation of Andy Burnham, the BBC has reported.
Former defence minister Al Carns is still debating whether to run, while Sir Keir Starmer’s chief secretary Darren Jones is also yet to decide whether to put his name in hat.
A number of ministers are increasingly uncomfortable with the prospect of the former Greater Manchester mayor becoming prime minister when his policies are yet to be tested by his party.
It is looking likely that Mr Burnham could in No10 as early as 17 July, the day after nominations for the top job close.
Nominations for prime minister open on 9 July and send by the summer recess of 16 July, with candidates needing to gain the support of at least 81 MPs each.
Starmer announces resignation as Burnham awaits ‘coronation’ to become prime minister
07:00 , Bryony Gooch
Emotional Starmer quits as Burnham arrives in Commons to become PM
Recap: Burnham warns against 'jumping several hurdles ahead' with calls for a general election
06:00 , Bryony Gooch
Andy Burnham said it would be “jumping several hurdles ahead” to call a general election should he become the next prime minister following Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation.
As he arrived in London on Monday afternoon, Mr Burnham was asked about comments he made when Rishi Sunak became prime minister, when he called for a general election.
Asked if he would now call an election, the new Labour MP for Makerfield said: “You’re jumping several hurdles ahead there.”
The former mayor of Greater Manchester added that his “priority” for the day was to officially swear in as an MP, adding: “It’s been very kind of sad for me today to leave Greater Manchester. The people have been brilliant to me over the last few years. I’ve loved every minute of the role. I hope I leave Manchester in a better place.”
Why Starmer’s speech struck a chord with an ex-No 10 adviser
05:00 , Bryony Gooch
Why Starmer’s resignation speech struck a chord with an ex-No 10 adviser
Recap in pictures: The moment Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation
04:00 , Bryony Gooch
Watch: Starmer resigns as prime minister - what next for the UK?
03:00 , Bryony Gooch
What would Andy Burnham as prime minister mean for Britain?
02:03 , Bryony Gooch
What would Andy Burnham’s policies be if he becomes prime minister?
Poll: Brits think Starmer was right to resign
01:00 , Bryony Gooch
Most Britons say it was right for Keir Starmer to resign (62 per cent), while only 19 per cent think he was wrong to do so, according to a YouGov snap poll.
Even among 2024 Labour voters – who voted to put Keir Starmer in Downing Street two years ago – the tendency is likewise to think it is right for him to stand aside (52 per cent) than to remain (28 per cent).
Watch: Trump and other world leaders react after Starmer announces resignation
Tuesday 23 June 2026 00:32 , Bryony Gooch
Forget Keir’s teary goodbye – it’s Victoria Starmer I feel sorry for
Tuesday 23 June 2026 00:01 , Bryony Gooch
Forget Keir’s teary goodbye – it’s Victoria Starmer I feel sorry for now
In pictures: Tomorrow's papers splashed with Burnham's plans for power as Starmer resigns
Monday 22 June 2026 23:30 , Bryony Gooch
Watch: Burnham has the right 'vision, ideas and priorities', says Streeting
Monday 22 June 2026 22:00 , Bryony Gooch
Trump repeats claims Starmer 'is no Churchill'
Monday 22 June 2026 21:35 , Bryony Gooch
Donald Trump has repeated claims that Sir Keir Starmer was no Winston Churchill as he criticised the British prime minister.
“This was not Winston Churchill,” he said in reference to Sir Keir Starmer’s reticence to support the US conflict in Iran.
“Starmer wasn't there, and you know what? The people of the UK did not like it that he wasn't there. Starmer said no. Starmer said worse than no. He said we'll be there as soon as you win.”
Starmer's wife thanks Downing Street staff at drinks
Monday 22 June 2026 21:30 , Bryony Gooch
Lady Starmer thanked Downing Street staff at drinks in the No 10 garden on Monday evening, telling them she was “personally really grateful” for their support.
Sir Keir Starmer’s wife Victoria said: “I just wanted to say thank you from me.
“I obviously love Keir and support him as much as I can, but there’s only so much I could do, and it’s you guys who gave that support day in, day out, and I am personally really grateful for that. So, thank you all.”
Trump criticises Starmer's record on energy as he exits role as prime minister
Monday 22 June 2026 21:28 , Bryony Gooch
US president Donald Trump has criticised Sir Keir Starmer’s record over energy as he steps down as Labour party leader and highlights timeline to exit role as prime minister.
“I think he's a lovely man, but I said ‘you're really messing up energy. You have windmills all over the place. In the meantime, you have the North Sea oil, and they won't let anybody drill to one of the great fields in the world,’” he said.
He went so far as to call Sir Keir “sort of a friend of mine,” but caveated “he was not good to us with NATO.”
“I wish him well, but he's got two problems: energy and immigration and crime, but energy and immigration, you know he's really hurt himself very badly.”
The hospital scandal that could come back to haunt Andy Burnham
Monday 22 June 2026 21:00 , Bryony Gooch
The hospital scandal that could come back to haunt Andy Burnham
Harriet Harman suggests Ed Miliband could be chancellor, if Burnham enters No10
Monday 22 June 2026 20:44 , Rebecca Whittaker
Member of the House of Lords, Harriet Harman, suggested Ed Miliband could become the next chancellor if Andy Burnham became Prime Minister.
Speaking to Sky News’ Cathy Newman she said: "Well, I don't think it couldn't be Ed Miliband actually.”
"I'm going to support whoever happens to be the chancellor.
"And it shouldn't, you know, we should not be ruling out Ed Miliband.
"I think he's a great talent, he's very economically literate, he's very intelligent and very committed and very experienced.”
Watch: How many prime ministers has Larry the cat seen?
Monday 22 June 2026 20:30 , Rebecca Whittaker
