Andy Burnham has insisted he is “fully focused” on his current role after a Labour MP said he was willing to sacrifice his seat to allow the Greater Manchester Mayor to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for party leadership.

The mayor was speaking to the Today Programme about a new £1billion growth plan for Greater Manchester, which will aim to funnel investment to more neglected parts of the city.

However, Mr Burnham was quickly questioned about his stance on national politics.

Just yesterday, Labour MP Clive Lewis said he was willing to give up his seat in Parliament to allow the Greater Manchester Mayor to contest party leadership.

Speaking on Mr Lewis’s comments, Mr Burnham said: “I appreciate the support but I couldn’t have brought forward a plan of the kind that I’ve brought forward today without being fully focused on my role of mayor of Greater Manchester”.

He added that he believed his round of appearances on national media on Thursday, the first since the Labour Party conference, was “helpful to the Government right now”.

“We’re doing this in advance of the Budget, I hope to really bring to life the growth story for the Government,” Mr Burnham said.

He was asked about Shabana Mahmood’s proposed asylum reforms, saying the Home Secretary was right to suggest changes, however, took aim at some details.

Mr Burnham said he agreed with several Labour MPs who are uncomfortable with the proposed 20-year qualification period for permanent settlement.

“I agree that Shabana Mahmood is right to grasp this nettle and have root and branch of the system,” he said.

“I agree with that, but I do have a concern about leaving people without the ability to settle – one of the concerns being that if there’s a need to constantly check up on the status of countries where people are, have come from, that might limit the ability of the Home Office to deal with the backlog and it also may leave people in a sense of limbo and unable to integrate.”

Mr Burnham said he would not say “the Home Secretary is wrong to call for this level of change”.

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“What I would say is it’s really important, on the back of the measures that she’s announced, that there is a considered debate, time is taken to see if consensus can be built around it because actually that would be hugely valuable to the country if that could be secured,” he added.

Mr Burnham further said that he had “concerns about the particular element of the plans”.

“I think it will leave people in a position where they don’t know whether they’re staying or potentially leaving, particularly in situations where people are wanting to work, wanting to contribute,” he said.

“I think it would be better to stick with the decision of long-term leave to remain.”

The Greater Manchester Mayor said that “from my point of view” there were other changes to the system required.

“I think on accommodation, the Home Secretary is right to look at that, I think they need to work more through local areas, local authorities, restore more local consultation to the system,” he said.

Mr Burnham ended the interview, saying he believed “part of the country’s problem is the political culture of Westminster”.

“Which is playing out in front of us right now,” he said.

Mr Lewis was asked on Wednesday if he would be willing to make way for Mr Burnham.

He told the BBC that “it’s a question I’ve asked myself” and that he needed to speak to his family.

“But, do you know what, if I’m going to sit here and say ‘country before party, party before personal ambition’, then yes,” Mr Lewis added.

“I have to say yes, don’t I.”

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