Darren Jones rules out Labour leadership bid after talks with Andy Burnham
Jones urges Burnham to clarify economic plans
Last updated 2 hours ago
Darren Jones has ruled himself out of running for the Labour leadership following a conversation with Andy Burnham.
Speaking to Sky News, the chief secretary to the Prime Minister said he had been “reassured” about Mr Burnham’s economic plans following their conversation on Tuesday.
Asked whether he would stand himself, Mr 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.”
He urged Mr Burnham to set out more of his economic policy to reassure Labour MPs, saying there were “upwards of 100 MPs who have expressed concerns either around a contest or economic policy, or who were just feeling pretty depressed off the back of Keir Starmer resigning”.
He added: “My last conversation with Andy Burnham was to say, ‘look, MPs are asking me to stand. I’m not going to but they’re asking me to stand for a reason, and that’s because they want you to set out more about your economic policy’.”
Though Mr Burnham is the most likely candidate to succeed Sir Keir Starmer, other MPs continue to be discussed as potential leadership contenders.
Former defence minister Al Carns, told Newsnight he was “pretty serious” about launching a leadership bid.
He added he wanted to see the policies Mr Burnham was going to champion, telling the BBC programme: “We need to see that material before I can make a decision to back anyone.”
Sir Keir Starmer will face Prime Minister’s Questions for the first time since he announced his resignation later today.
The Prime Minister’s Commons outing will mark his first public appearance since the emotional statement he made in Downing Street on Monday morning, when he set out a timetable for his exit.
He is likely to face questions about the scope of what his Government can now achieve in his final weeks in office, after Downing Street said no “major” new policy decisions or spending pledges would be made before a new Labour leader is chosen.