Speculation surrounding Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, and a potential challenge to Keir Starmer for the Labour Party leadership has intensified amidst recent opinion polls placing Reform UK ahead of Labour. Burnham initially fueled these rumors in a New Statesman interview by criticizing the government's approach and emphasizing the need for 'our plan to turn the country around'. The talk gained further traction when he confirmed in a Telegraph interview that Labour MPs had approached him over the summer about succeeding Keir Starmer.

However, Burnham has since clarified his position, stating he is 'ready to support the Prime Minister and the government'. He explained to BBC Radio Manchester that while MPs were in touch, his response to them was, 'It’s not up to me. It’s not my decision. That’s a matter for you and the party in Parliament.' Despite this, he reiterated the necessity for 'a proper plan for the country and a proper plan to beat Reform', stressing that the upcoming Labour Conference should focus entirely on this issue. He also indicated his intention to limit public appearances at the conference in Liverpool to avoid overshadowing the cabinet as the party seeks a reset following Angela Rayner's resignation and a ministerial reshuffle. He expressed disappointment over the reported delay of a new Liverpool-Manchester railway line announcement, calling it 'not the plan we need'.

Burnham has also been a vocal critic of the two-child benefit limit, introduced by the Conservative government in 2017, branding it an 'abhorrent policy' and the 'worst of Westminster'. Speaking to journalist Terri White for a Guardian video feature, he argued the limit, which restricts universal credit and tax credits to two children, is 'arbitrary' and cannot be justified. He highlighted the policy's contribution to child poverty, noting that 109 children a day are pushed into poverty nationally by this limit. Burnham, who is one of three children, condemned the state for making 'judgmental interventions into families’ lives' that allow some children to have a lower standard of living. He, along with charities and anti-poverty campaigners like Gordon Brown, advocates for its abolition. While Starmer has expressed a desire to lift the cap when economic conditions permit, Burnham-backed group Mainstream is pushing for a debate on the issue at the Labour conference.

Beyond leadership speculation, Burnham has actively put forward his policy vision. He has accused Downing Street of fostering a 'climate of fear' and asserted that 'wholesale change' is essential to counter an 'existential' threat to the Labour party. His proposed policies include implementing higher council tax on certain homes in southern England, based on updated property valuations, and a 50p top rate of income tax. He also advocates for greater public control over housing, energy, water, and rail, and a return to 'speaking to working-class ambition', outlining a politics of 'aspirational socialism'. He has also signalled openness to working with Liberal Democrats and Jeremy Corbyn, and believes Britain should adopt proportional representation to encourage cooperation among the 'progressive majority'.

In Greater Manchester, Burnham's major mayoral policy, 'Live Well', aims to combine key support services into 'Live Well Centres' (renamed Job Centres) where residents can access holistic advice on employment, housing, budgeting, and even host GPs and dentists. He sought control of Greater Manchester's multi-billion-pound employment support budget for this initiative and received £10m to demonstrate its national prevention potential. However, a '10-year' NHS shake-up, announced by Health Secretary Wes Streeting and backed by Keir Starmer, which involves scrapping NHS England and staff cuts at integrated care boards (ICBs), poses a significant risk to Live Well. Coun Shaun Ennis raised concerns about redundancies for Live Well staff in Trafford, leading Burnham to admit the NHS reforms 'risk' the policy's future. The process for redundancies in Greater Manchester's ICB, affecting 39% of NHS jobs, is currently on pause due to funding issues, with health chiefs reportedly exploring models that build on Live Well.

Burnham’s interventions and policy pronouncements are seen by some as a potential future leadership pitch, despite his denials of an immediate return to Westminster. He has thrown his support behind Lucy Powell in the race for Labour deputy leader, viewing her victory as a means to weaken Downing Street's influence on the party. Powell, who has received a £15,000 donation from green energy industrialist Dale Vince, has positioned herself as the 'independent choice' against Cabinet minister Bridget Phillipson, who has dismissed claims of being No. 10's preferred candidate and questioned Burnham's leadership ambitions given his mayoral commitment.