Supporters of Andy Burnham have urged Angela Rayner to play Gordon Brown to his Tony Blair by doing a deal to seize power. The Greater Manchester mayor is said to have offered the former deputy prime minister 'any Cabinet job she wants' and a vow to 'stand aside' so she can follow him into No10 - if she supports his leadership bid.
Echoes of the Granita Pact
The move would echo the Granita Pact, sealed by Blair and Brown at the restaurant of the same name in 1994 before they took power in Labour. They are said to have discussed the idea in secret talks at Ms Rayner's Greater Manchester constituency home earlier this month.
It comes as speculation grows that a terrible night in the May 7 local and devolved elections could trigger a move against Sir Keir Starmer. However, the pitch has seemingly been dismissed out of hand by Ms Rayner, with allies saying she can win on her own and has no interest in being a junior partner.
Burnham's Position as Non-MP
Additionally, Mr Burnham is not an MP, having seen his plan to abandon his mayoralty and secure a return to Westminster in the Gorton and Denton by-election blocked by Sir Keir. It means that any swift move against the PM would leave him stuck on the sidelines with no way to be involved.
He could try to win another by-election if Sir Keir sets out a timetable to stand down later in the year. Following what is expected to be bruising results, MPs are expected to write and call for beleaguered Keir Starmer to stand down by party conference in the autumn. This would allow time for a contest to be held and a new leader to take over in an orderly manner.
But a source close to Ms Rayner told The Telegraph: 'It is outrageous to suggest to a woman who pulled herself up by her bootstraps that she should be number two.'
Election Warnings and Cabinet Revolt
It comes amid warnings that losses of more than 1,500 council seats on May 7 could trigger a Cabinet revolt. Labour sources suggested that Mr Burnham's allies were behind the letter to oust the PM, and that an MP from the North-West could stand down to give him a seat. Names of potential candidates include Marie Rimmer, Charlotte Nichols and Peter Dowd – though the former two said they had not been asked to make way for him.
The statement is said to be circulating among MPs and will be sent in the aftermath of torrid local election results.
