Burnham says he would seek to enter any Labour leadership contest

Andy Burnham said he would seek to enter any potential Labour leadership contest should he win the Makerfield by-election on 18 June.

The Greater Manchester mayor made clear his ambitions as he appeared alongside four other candidates during a BBC Question Time special in the constituency.

Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon said there was a need for a "big move away from career politicians" and warned against using Makerfield as a "stepping stone".

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has defied calls from some Labour MPs to step down after poor election results last month. No formal challenge has been launched against him.

A No 10 spokesperson said: "The prime minister will not walk away from the mandate he was given just two years ago to build a stronger, fairer Britain."

The by-election was called after then-Labour MP Josh Simons stepped down, a move he said was to allow Burnham to run for Parliament and potentially mount a leadership bid.

The vote in Makerfield is expected to be a race between Burnham and Kenyon, a plumber and local councillor.

Asked about how politicians could restore public trust in them, Burnham criticised "point-scoring before problem-solving" in Westminster before he was pressed about his own ambitions.