Hold the line': Burnham tells allies in parliament he still has options to return

"Andy Burnham has told Labour MPs they should hold the line and that he has options to return to parliament after several seats identified by his allies failed to materialise. Two seats that backers of the Greater Manchester mayor had described as nailed on as recently as Monday night are now out of contention after the MPs concerned got cold feet. Burnham spoke to a number of MPs by phone on Tuesday and assured them that he still intended to seek an imminent return to parliament."

"The Guardian was told by two MPs on Wednesday that Jeff Smith, who represents Manchester Withington, an affluent suburb of the city, was in talks about stepping side for Burnham, but his friends denied it. Smith was approached for comment. Afzal Khan, the MP for Manchester Rusholme, has also denied his seat is in contention. Jim McMahon, who represents Oldham West, did not respond to enquiries about his seat, but he is known to be close to Angela Rayner."

"There are some in the Burnham camp who have deep reservations about the seat anyway because of the likelihood of a well-funded Reform campaign there, and especially a focus on the town's dark legacy of grooming gangs. Burnham's allies had previously been confident they had potential seats in St Helens and Warrington, but the MPs Charlotte Nichols and Marie Rimmer deny that was the case."

"I don't know how many different ways I can say this, but I'm not stepping aside for Andy Burnham, Nichols said on Wednesday. It's both very tedious for me and very demoralising for my staff to keep seeing it reported that I might be about to go when there's never even been so much as a conversation with Andy about doing so. One Burnham ally said: We thought the local election results would concentrate some peoples' minds [but] until you've got something lined up, you haven't."

Andy Burnham told Labour MPs to hold their positions and said he has options to return to parliament after expected seat opportunities did not emerge. Several seats previously described as secure by his supporters are now considered out of contention after MPs showed reluctance. Burnham contacted MPs by phone and reiterated his intention to seek an imminent return. Jeff Smith of Manchester Withington was reported to be in talks about stepping aside, but his friends denied it, and Afzal Khan of Manchester Rusholme also denied his seat was in contention. Jim McMahon of Oldham West did not respond, though he is linked to Angela Rayner. Some supporters worry about difficult electoral conditions, including a potential well-funded Reform campaign and local concerns about grooming gangs. Burnham backers had also expected opportunities in St Helens and Warrington, but Charlotte Nichols and Marie Rimmer denied any such plans.

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