Andy Burnham is likely to discuss the Labour leadership situation directly with Sir Keir Starmer if he wins the Makerfield by-election, a Cabinet minister said.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said Mr Burnham deserves to be heard “loud and clear at the top of politics” if he succeeds in fighting off the challenge from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK in the seat.
If Mr Burnham does hold Makerfield for Labour, he is expected to use his return to the Commons to launch an effort to oust the Prime Minister.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy praised Andy Burnham’s ability to win voters back from Reform (Jonathan Brady/PA)
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Ms Nandy, who insisted she still supports the Prime Minister, said Mr Burnham was capable of winning over voters in a way that no other Labour politician could.
She said: “If Andy wins tonight I’m sure there’ll be a conversation with the Prime Minister. I’m sure the Prime Minister will want to call to congratulate him, in fact, I know he will, and I know that they’ll have then have a conversation about what comes next.
“The Prime Minister has already signalled that he would like to extend a hand of friendship to Andy to make sure that he’s part of the team. I think that’s a conversation they need to have.”
Allies of Mr Burnham have made clear he would not accept a job in Sir Keir’s Cabinet.
Turnout in the Makerfield by-election is 58.75%, higher than the figure in the 2024 general election.
Ms Nandy, who represents the neighbouring Wigan seat, told Sky News: “If Andy Burnham can beat Reform in this by-election, he will have done something that, frankly, no other Labour politician in the country could have done.
“Seven weeks ago, I can’t tell you what it was like knocking on doors around here.
“It was a completely different experience, door knocking for Andy Burnham.”
She added: “I want us to pull together as a team. I want voices like Andy’s to be heard loud and clear at the top of politics.”
Asked who she would back in a contest between Mr Burnham and Sir Keir she sidestepped the question, saying: “I’ve been really clear, I wouldn’t serve in the Prime Minister’s cabinet unless I supported him.”
Votes are counted for the Makerfield by-election (Peter Byrne/PA)
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Mr Burnham said the Makerfield campaign was a “vote to change politics” and vowed to “take that fight as high as I can possibly take it”.
Reform’s Robert Kenyon represents the main threat to Mr Burnham’s plan for a Westminster return, with the party riding high in national opinion polls and picking up council seats in the constituency last month.
Mr Kenyon said he was “confident of a big vote for Reform”.
One factor that might count in Mr Burnham’s favour is the campaign mounted by Restore Britain, the party set up by Rupert Lowe after his public falling out with his former party, Reform, and Mr Farage.
If would-be Reform voters have backed Restore instead, that could help Mr Burnham’s victory chances.
Mr Burnham has said he will take part in any leadership contest if he returns to Westminster, although his supporters hope Sir Keir will quit rather than fight to save his premiership.
Mr Burnham and his allies are reported to be hoping for a “coronation”, in which Sir Keir stands aside, rather than a contest, which they believe would be damaging to Labour’s brand.
“I hope, if things go the way way we want them to tonight that Keir Starmer takes the time to reflect on these results, reflect on the results just six weeks ago and do what’s best for both the country and the Labour Party,” former Cabinet minister Louise Haigh told the BBC.
“I hope that he will consider an orderly and managed transition.”
But the Prime Minister has repeatedly insisted he has no intention of walking away from No 10 and is understood to have amassed a war chest to fund his campaign to fight any leadership challenge, as first reported by The Times.
He has the backing of a group of private donors, with fundraising having ramped up in the last two days and total pledges running into six figures, sources said.
Makerfield is one of three parliamentary by-elections where votes are being counted.
In Aberdeen South the Conservatives won the seat vacated by the SNP after former Westminster leader Stephen Flynn won election to the Scottish Parliament in May.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch had made her party’s support for the North Sea oil industry a key part of the campaign which saw Douglas Lumsden take the seat with a majority of 6,050.
In Arbroath and Broughty Ferry the SNP’s Lara Bird held the seat vacated when Stephen Gethins became an MSP.
