Speaking on Air Force One, the US president said: “It’s a tough thing, unless he can straighten out immigration – where he’s weak – and if he doesn’t start drilling and stop with the windmills all over the place … he’s got to open up the North Sea.”
Ms Rayner appeared to have her path to a leadership run cleared on Thursday when HM Revenue and Customs decided not to fine her for failing to pay £40,000 owed in stamp duty.
The decision not to find her “careless” over the blunder has been questioned by tax experts. The issue could receive fresh scrutiny if she does run for the Labour leadership.
Rayner ‘knows she can’t beat Burnham’
The Telegraph understands the former deputy prime minister – whose appetite for seeking the top job has been in doubt – believes she could not beat Mr Burnham.
One source who has discussed the matter with Ms Rayner said: “She recognises Andy has the support.” Another made the same point.
Since Labour’s bruising local election results, Ms Rayner has twice called for Mr Burnham to be allowed back into the Commons, seen as a sign of this acceptance.
Both she and her team have denied any deal or pact with Mr Burnham. The pair met privately last month at Ms Rayner’s house.
Mr Burnham has a positive approval rating with the public, unlike Ms Rayner, according to opinion polls. She spent the first 14 months of the Labour Government as Sir Keir’s deputy.
Mr Miliband, the Energy Security Secretary and former Labour leader, has reportedly been considering running in a contest if it were triggered before Mr Burnham returned as an MP.
However, multiple Labour MPs in different factions have predicted he too would fall in line with Mr Burnham, with the pair broadly aligned on policy instincts.
Chances of becoming Labour leader