Shabana Mahmood today urged senior Labour figures to ‘focus on the day job’ amid fresh speculation about a leadership challenge to Sir Keir Starmer.
The Home Secretary warned her party not to ‘waste a single second’ of being in power as she attempted to dampen down questions about the Prime Minister’s future.
But Ms Mahmood – frequently touted as a successor to Sir Keir – failed to rule out a bid for top job herself, admitting ‘every single person’ has thought about being PM.
It came after Labour rebels plotting to topple Sir Keir said they were on the brink of a major breakthrough.
Allies of Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, told the Mail on Sunday he was poised to secure a deal to fight a by-election to return to the House of Commons.
This would then allow the former Cabinet minister, dubbed ‘The King of the North’, to formally launch a challenge against Sir Keir if he could rally the support of MPs.
Speculation about the PM’s future has been sent into overdrive following a Labour briefing war last month over suggestions of a coup.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting was forced to deny plotting to unseat the PM after supporters of Sir Keir made clear he would fight any challenge from Labour MPs.
Shabana Mahmood today urged senior Labour figures to ‘focus on the day job’ amid fresh speculation about a leadership challenge to Sir Keir Starmer
The Home Secretary warned her party not to ‘waste a single second’ of being in power as she attempted to dampen down questions about the Prime Minister’s future.
Ms Mahmood was quizzed about growing expectations the PM will be replaced next year during an appearance on the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show.
‘All of us in Government and in the Labour Party have a responsibility to focus on the day job and to get on with delivering for the British people,’ the Home Secretary replied.
‘So actually, this is on the whole of the Government and all of the Parliamentary Labour Party and the whole Labour movement to make sure we don’t waste a single second of the time that we have in Government.’
Ms Mahmood insisted Sir Keir is ‘not going’ as she was asked whether she would run for Labour’s leadership if the PM stepped down.
‘Well, Keir Starmer is not going,’ she said. But pressed further on her personal ambitions, she added: ‘Every single person has thought about it, of course they have.
‘But that is not the same as plotting to overthrow a Prime Minister for God’s sake. The Prime Minister is getting on with doing his job. I am a member of his Government.
‘I have a big job of my own to do, and that is the only thing I’m focused on.’
Allies of Andy Burnham , the Greater Manchester mayor, told the Mail on Sunday he was poised to secure a deal to fight a by-election to return to the House of Commons
Asked about the fresh speculation over Mr Burnham’s leadership ambitions, Ms Mahmood had earlier told Sky News: ‘Labour governments don’t come along very often.
‘And every minute that we have in Government is precious. We have a big agenda. We have to crack on with delivering.’
She added: ‘Wherever you sit in the Labour family, we all have a role to play in supporting the Labour Government deliver for the people of this country.’
Mr Burnham himself did not comment directly on claims he is eyeing a return to the Commons.
But the Greater Manchester mayor posted on social media on Sunday: ‘Quite a lot of rubbish in the papers today. Reminds me why I left Westminster in the first place!’
