By GB News (Politics) | Created at 2026-09-18 13:26:47 | Updated at 2026-09-18 15:35:44
2 hours ago
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has been beset by Labour infighting just 60 days into his premiership as a leak from within Downing Street reveals how Sir Keir Starmer planned to stay in power, leaving Mr Burnham to swoop in and pick up the pieces.
The leaked document shows how the former Prime Minister had a laundry list of policies drawn up to save him before his inevitable resignation, which have been adopted by Andy Burnham.
The documents are reported to show that of the 50 policy ideas included, 20 were announced by Sir Keir before his departure in July, six have already been announced by Andy Burnham, and a further eight are expected to be announced within weeks.
There are also 16 more ideas worked up by Whitehall, but were not announced by either Prime Minister, although some could be included in Mr Burnham's 10-year plan.
Former Labour political adviser John McTernan called the leak to Sky News "the last of knockings of Sir Keir Starmer's allies".
Meanwhile, Green deputy leader Rachel Millward challenged Mr Burnham to "prove" he's not running a continuity Government.
Chancellor John Healey had earlier told reporters that Mr Burnham is running a “continuity” Government, just with a change of leader - a statement that was met with backlash after the party had made an effort to distance itself from Sir Keir's Government.
Andy Burnham had campaigned in Makerfield under the guise of a new Labour that would put money back into people's pockets, however with no general election, he is bound to fulfil the party manifesto from 2024.
Conservative shadow minister Saqib Bhatti said the documents only further prove that Mr Burnham "is the 'copy and paste' Prime Minister".
A leak inquiry has commenced in light of the revelation by Sky News into Sir Keir Starmer's No10 survival plan,
On the defence of the party plans, Home Office minister Sarah Jones said it's "not surprising" there is some policy crossover between Sir Keir and Andy Burnham.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage ridiculed Chancellor John Healey's Freudian slip of the term "continuity Government" when describing the transition to Mr Burnham's premiership as a continuation of the previous, hardstuck Labour administration.
Mr Farage claimed that instead of real tangible change, concepts such as No10 North simply translated to "bigger Government, more taxes and more failure".
During the 2026 Reform UK Conference, Mr Farage contrasted Labour's alleged stagnation with his party vision - with his own roadmap for the first 100-days of a Reform UK government, which included declaring a national emergency and having Parliament sit extended hours.
Defending Labour's new approach to delivery under a new Cabinet, party MP Jess Phillips told Sky News that Andy Burnham has an "urgency" that his predecessor didn't.
Ms Phillips, who served as safeguarding minister in Sir Keir's government, resigned in May in an attempt to force him from office.
Chancellor John Healey had earlier told reporters that Mr Burnham is running a 'continuity' Government
She said both men are "perfectly reasonable people to work with. But there is definitely a different sense of urgency, I would say, about Andy Burnham".
However, Mr Burnham's downplaying of the government’s commitment to hike defence spending – the very issue that prompted his resignation from the previous Government – risks people questioning the principles of Mr Burnham and his ministers.
Beyond not having a mandate to change the manifesto, commentators note a jettison of every commitment and policy set out by his predecessor serves no real interest.
Many achievements during Sir Keir's time, such as the Employment Rights Act, were important Labour accomplishments – and a complete abandonment of the 2024 manifesto would pile pressure on the Government for a snap election.
