Sir Keir’s leadership was plunged into crisis last week, after dozens of Labour MPs called for him to stand down and Wes Streeting resigned as health secretary, criticising his government’s “drift”.
The revolt against Sir Keir’s leadership came after a dire set of election results that saw Labour lose power in Wales and almost 1,500 council seats in England.
Sir Keir has insisted he will not “walk away” from Downing Street and has sought to seize control of the political agenda with a series of announcements on the cost of living this week.
His intention to canvass voters in Makerfield, in Greater Manchester, is unexpected given Burnham is widely expected to challenge Sir Keir for the Labour leadership, should he become an MP.
When asked whether he would be out supporting the Greater Manchester mayor’s campaign in Makerfield, Sir Keir told reporters: “Yes, and I’ve said to the whole Labour movement that I want everybody to be involved in the campaign, whatever other discussions are going on, it’s really important – that’s a straight fight between Labour and Reform.”
He said Labour has “got a very good story to tell” on the doorstep, referring to recent economic growth figures, falling NHS waiting lists, and a drop in UK net migration to the lowest level since the start of the Covid pandemic.
But in interviews and speeches in recent days, Burnham has been sending a different message.
On Thursday, he told BBC Radio Manchester Britain had been “on the wrong path for 40 years”.
In a speech last week, he said “a vote for me will be a vote to change Labour”.