According to a report by the Mail on Sunday, Sue Gray, the former chief of staff to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is advising Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham as he prepares for a possible future Labour leadership challenge.

Sources cited in the article claim Gray is helping Burnham consider how a potential transition into government could work if he were to defeat Starmer in a leadership contest following the Makerfield by-election.The report says Gray and Burnham have maintained a long-standing political relationship dating back to Burnham’s time in Tony Blair’s government.

While she is allegedly contributing informal strategic advice, allies of Burnham reportedly do not expect her to take an official government role due to controversy surrounding her departure from Downing Street in 2024.

The article also claims Conservative MPs are becoming increasingly concerned about the possibility of a snap general election if Burnham were to become Labour leader and attempt to capitalise on an early political boost.

Polling referenced in the piece suggested Labour could improve its electoral standing under Burnham compared with Starmer, potentially pushing the Conservatives behind Reform UK in national support.

The story revisits criticism of Burnham’s record as Health Secretary during the Mid Staffordshire hospital scandal, highlighting accusations that he resisted calls for a public inquiry at the time.Victims’ campaigners quoted in the article argued that his handling of the crisis should disqualify him from becoming Prime Minister.Burnham’s allies denied that he was getting ahead of himself politically, insisting his focus remains on the current by-election campaign.