Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham could face a Nigel Farage-shaped stumbling block if he tries to win the Labour Party leadership.

That is the opinion of Andy Preston, formerly the Mayor of Middlesbrough, who spoke to GB News about how Mr Burnham might go about replacing Sir Keir Starmer.

The Manchester Mayor established a new left-wing campaign group earlier this week in a move many see as a means to set the groundwork for a possible leadership push.

The group “Mainstream” was set up amid concern Downing Street was dismissing the left of the party following the resignation of Angela Rayner.

It is calling on Downing Street to introduce wealth taxes, nationalise utility companies and end the two-child benefit cap.

Speculation amongst MPs suggests that a Mr Burnham ally, Lucy Powell, could step aside to allow the Manchester Mayor to run for her seat and become an MP, which would allow him to challenge for the leadership if a contest opens.

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According to Mr Preston, Reform UK could prove to be a major thorn in the side for Mr Burnham if he were to put such a plan into practice.

“Andy Burnham is likeable, I don’t know many who dislike him and he is very ambitious. He stood to be leader in 2010 and didn’t do well”, he said.

“He is not the leader people think he is. He is not a superstar. Andy Burnham is teeing up to be leader. He’s wanted it for 15 years and he won’t get a chance as good as this.

“The question is, will he deliver if he becomes leader?”

Asked about the conundrum thrown up by the fact he is not a sitting MP, Mr Preston explained: “If you’ve got backers and allies, it’s quite easy.

“You get a friendly MP to stand down in a relatively safe seat. Andy Burnham will step in and win it and then repay the favour to the MP who stood down.

“The challenge though is with Reform around at the moment and a fractured voting pattern, there are very few certainly safe seats.

“But it’s certainly an option to him. He could become leader in a relatively short space of time.”

The Manchester mayor enjoys significant public support, with recent surveys showing him as one of the few senior politicians maintaining positive approval ratings amongst voters.

His strong advocacy for northern development and criticism of Westminster’s concentrated power has resonated with many Labour members outside London.

The Prime Minister faces unprecedented challenges following a series of controversies and policy missteps during his time in Downing Street.

With local elections scheduled for May 2026, Labour anticipates disappointing results that could accelerate any leadership challenge timeline.

The Manchester mayor appears poised to capitalise on this vulnerability, particularly given recent turmoil surrounding appointments like Peter Mandelson’s ambassadorial role.

Party insiders suggest the coming months will prove crucial in determining whether sufficient momentum exists for a formal challenge to materialise.