Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham ‘held private talks in Makerfield earlier in the week’

Labour leadership rivals Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham are said to have held ‘private talks’ in Makerfield that could ‘herald a deal’ between the pair, it has been reported.

Streeting and Burnham have both made clear their desire to challenge Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership, with the latter hoping to secure victory in the Makerfield by-election taking place today, so that he is able to take part in any contest.

The Prime Minister has insisted that he is going nowhere and has said he is determined to carry on governing having secured a mandate just two years ago.

Nonetheless, with more than 100 Labour MPs calling on him to step aside as well as the likes of Streeting quitting the cabinet, Starmer faces a fight for his political survival.

The Telegraph reports that Streeting and Burnham held a secret summit in Makerfield this week that could herald a deal between them.

The paper reports: “The Telegraph understands that the two men held private talks in Makerfield on Monday, when Mr Streeting visited to campaign in the by-election. Sources close to them refused to reveal whether any pact was discussed, although MPs think an alliance could make them unbeatable.

“MPs are swapping wild rumours about what the terms of the deal could involve. One Labour source told The Telegraph they had heard Mr Streeting would offer Mr Burnham support to trigger a contest in exchange for a job as Foreign Secretary, while another source said it would be Mr Burnham who offered Mr Streeting the backing of enough MPs to get him onto the leadership ballot.”

However, sources close to Burnham claim that Downing Street is offering support to Streeting in hope of forcing a three-way contest to undermine the Mayor of Greater Manchester.