Darren Jones Says He Won't Challenge Andy Burnham To Become Prime Minister

Darren Jones will not challenge Andy Burnham to become the next Labour leader and prime minister.

The cabinet minister said he had made the decision after having talks with the former mayor of Greater Manchester.

Jones, who is chief secretary to the prime minister and a close ally of Keir Starmer, had been urged by some Labour MPs to throw his hat into the ring to avoid a Burnham coronation next month.

But speaking to Sky News, Jones said he had decided not to do so.

That means that is is all-but certain that Burnham will not face a leadership contest and will become prime minister at a special Labour leadership conference on July 17.

Asked by Sky’s political editor Beth Rigby if he was going to stand, Jones said: “I’m not. And look, I’m flattered by the support from colleagues, whether MPs or other important stakeholders in the party but, look, it’s not something that I’m going to do.”

Under Labour Party rules, anyone challenging for the leadership must have the support of at least 81 MPs.

Jones said that “upwards of 100” MPs have concerns about Burnham becoming PM without a leadership contest.

But he added: “I was never planning or organising a leadership campaign like some of my colleagues were, I was getting on with the job as chief secretary to the prime minister.

“And Andy Burnham is going to be the next prime minister. And 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?

“But I hear my colleagues’ concerns in wanting reassurance from Andy in 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.”

Jones said that during talks with Burnham on Tuesday, he had set out the concerns some Labour MPs have that he will increase government borrowing if he becomes PM.

He said there was “room to borrow a little more” on specific projects like building more council houses.

“There is a route to doing that in a way which is in line with the fiscal rules and maintains economic stability,” Jones said.

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.