Darren Jones says he will not challenge Andy Burnham for Labour leadership

<p>However, Jones also said he could have won the support of enough MPs to cross the threshold to stand, adding that more than a quarter of Labour MPs were unhappy at the prospect of a Burnham coronation. “There are lots of MPs who either want a contest or want assurance on economic policy, or a bit of both,” said Jones, who described Burnham as a friend.</p>

<p>“If there was a contest of Labour party members, he would win. So the question for me is, well, what would the benefit be to the country and to the party of a leadership contest?</p>

<p>“But I hear my colleagues’ concerns in wanting reassurance from Andy and his team, and he should present that to them, because he will want to bring all parts of the parliamentary Labour party with him as he becomes prime minister. And I think it’s important that he does that.”</p>

<p>Separately, when it came to Burnham’s plans, Jones said “there’s room to borrow a little bit more” for specific projects.</p>

<p>He also referred to concerns from some MPs about who would emerge as a new chancellor if Burnham moves – as expected – to replace Rachel Reeves.</p>

<p>It is understood that some on the right of the party have reservations about Ed Miliband stepping into the role. The energy secretary has also been increasingly targeted by the rightwing press and commentators.</p>

<p>Burnham’s supporters are divided over <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jun/23/in-or-out-burnham-cabinet-ed-miliband-shabana-mahmood-wes-streeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">who should be his chancellor</a>, with a briefing war breaking out between advocates of the former health secretary <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/wes-streeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Wes Streeting</a> and those close to Miliband.</p>

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<p>Referring to fellow Labour MPs, Jones said: “Their concern is, well, who is Andy going to appoint as chancellor? What does that mean for the trust that we have won from the public on being trusted on the economy? And how do we ensure stability in the economy whilst delivering on our policy objectives?</p>

<p>Asked for his view of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jun/23/in-or-out-burnham-cabinet-ed-miliband-shabana-mahmood-wes-streeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Miliband as chancellor</a>, Jones said: “I’m not going to get into personalities.” But setting out his “tests” for who takes on the role, he said: “I think the next chancellor needs to be able to have a clear view about the political economy and understand how the Treasury works.</p>

<p>“I think they need to have an important relationship with the prime minister, because, quite frankly, in many circumstances the chancellor in the Treasury is more powerful than the prime minister in Downing Street.</p>

<p>“So, you have to have someone that’s going to enable the delivery of the prime minister’s priorities and not try to control the prime minister. And that relationship is really critical.</p>

<p>“You also need a chancellor that can reassure the markets, reassure the trade unions and reassure the parliamentary Labour party, and by extension the public.”</p>

<p>Asked whether Miliband fell short of his tests, Jones said: “I will let you mark those tests, but those are the tests I think need to be met.”</p>

<p>Burnham has chosen his Blairite former colleague James Purnell <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jun/23/andy-burnham-picks-former-blair-minister-james-purnell-as-his-chief-of-staff" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">as his chief of staff</a>, the Guardian understands, as he begins to finalise his team for government.</p>

Guardian Sport · Jun 24

Guardian Sport · Jun 24

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