Image source, Reuters

We have not heard from Andy Burnham today - but the Greater Manchester mayor did tweet last night.

After watching the Everton-Sunderland match, which Everton lost 1-3, he thanks "everyone who came up to speak to me today".

He says the one bit of feedback that "sticks most" in his mind is: "You need to be clearer that Labour left us. We didn’t leave Labour."

He says his "campaign" will aim to "change Labour back to the party people used to know" - a party "solidly on the side of working class people. Make no mistake about that".

He also says: "Appreciate all the advice and agree with the main consensus: 'Get new running shorts'."

Image source, PA Media

Asked why there is currently no timetable for Stamer to step down, Lammy says the prime minister won a "historic majority" in the 2024 election, adding: "Let me say this - personally, he is the most resilient person I know."

Asked explicitly if Starmer will stand if a leadership contest is triggered, Lammy says "yes", before repeating that there is no race as things stand.

He says that "introspection and internecine warfare" and "colleagues lighting the match and standing in the petrol" will only "usher in" Reform UK and Nigel Farage.

Lammy repeats that Burnham and Streeting are free to state their positions on Europe as neither are in government, likening the recent discussions around future EU membership as "sixth form debate".

The deputy prime minister says leadership speculation over the last 10 days doesn't set back Labour's attempts to stay in power and deliver for the people, adding he's less interested in debate, and more on delivering policies.

But he says he would campaign for Burnham in the Makerfield by-election, telling Radio 4: "I've known Andy for over 25 years, we were both protegees under the great Tessa Jowell. He's very able, very committed, of course I'll be working alongside him."

Lammy is asked about Streeting's view that Britain's future lies "one day back in the European Union" and whether a similar position is on the cards for the government.

The deputy prime minister repeats that Streeting is "free to say whatever he wants" as a backbencher, but refuses to be drawn on his own views about Labour's future Europe policy.

He says Labour's manifesto had "clear red lines" on the EU and the government is "committed" to them - adding that he won't speculate about what the party may propose at the next general election.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, now appearing on Radio 4's Today programme, is asked if former Health Secretary Wes Streeting's recent comments on EU were out of touch.

As a reminder, Streeting - who resigned from government last week - called Brexit a "catastrophic mistake" and said the UK should "one day" rejoin the EU.

Lammy says the conflict within Labour has been "an extraordinary own goal" for the past 10 days, and says it is "important that we come together, that we unify, and that we remember that we're in government".

He again says that he is "very sad" to see Streeting resign from cabinet.

Reiterating points he made earlier on BBC Breakfast, he says Brexit has made the UK poorer, and that the UK is now "reconnecting" with Europe, highlighting work experience and defence deals.

Before Lammy speaks to Today, we've been hearing from Jonathan Hinder, Labour MP for Pendle and Clitheroe.

He is highly critical of the EU stance set out by Wes Streeting, saying his constituents would say "you are off your rocker" if he proposed restarting the Brexit debate.

Hinder calls the discussion a "staggering level of out of touch", and says it would lose the Labour Party support in working class areas.

He suggests debating Brexit "is not a priority" for British people, adding: "We're doing that again? It's absolutely brainless."

We're about to hear from Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy again, this time on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

You can watch liveat the top of this page and we'll bring you updates here.

The Times has comments from Burnham's supporters, who accuse Streeting of "sabotage" by seeking to make EU membership a central part of any future leadership contest.

The paper also quotes one cabinet minister who says Streeting and Burnham's battle makes the PM look like an "island of stability and sanity".

The Mail also headlines on "Backlash over Brexit betrayal", while the Independent says Streeting has been accused of restarting "Brexit wars".

The Guardian carries quotes from someone it describes as a Burnham ally, who says the Manchester mayor has a 45% chance of winning the Makerfield by-election.

Meanwhile, the Telegraph says Burnham is distancing himself from calls to rejoin the EU, with a spokesman insisting he would be campaigning on local issues and would not be standing on a "national manifesto".

The Financial Times also says Burnham is "play[ing] down" the EU issue, while the i Paper says Streeting "will stand for PM on pledge to rejoin the EU".

Image source, PA Media

Lammy says "of course" he will go to Makerfield to campaign for Andy Burnham in the upcoming by-election, if Burnham is to be selected as Labour's candidate.

He says he and Burnham were "proteges back in the Tony Blair government" and describes him as a "great guy, a very able politician, wonderful communicator".

"It would be great to have him back in Parliament," he adds.

Asked if Starmer himself will be campaigning for Burnham, Lammy says "all of us in cabinet" will be pushing for a Labour win.

Pressed about a potential leadership contest, Lammy says: "I believe in loyalty, I believe in trust, I believe in conviction."

He says he spoke to Starmer twice yesterday and that he stands by him, adding that Labour needs to "get back on the pitch" after 10 days of infighting.

"Let us get back on the pitch after 10 days of introspection and infighting, back on the pitch delivering for the British people in government with the levers of power. We've got three years," Lammy says.

Asked whether Starmer would fight a potential leadership challenge, Lammy says he has been "crystal clear that he fights on", adding that the prime minister "has my full support".

Asked if he personally wants the UK to rejoin the EU, Lammy says: "Everyone knows that the Brexit that was delivered by Boris Johson and his cronies damaged the British economy."

He says the UK is "poorer as a result" and with increased, rather then lowered, immigration.

The UK is now "reconnecting" with colleagues in Europe, he says, and that the UK will make "step-by-step improvements".

"I'm very proud that we led us down that road," he adds.

Asked about Wes Streeting's comments about Brexit over the weekend, Lammy says he is sad the former health secretary left government, but that ministers who do so are "free to say whatever they want".

He says "collective responsibility matters" in government, and points to Labour's manifesto promises, which set out red lines on not rejoining the European Union.

Lammy says he won't speculate about what a future Labour manifesto might say on Europe.

Labour's manifesto at the last election said: "There will be no return to the single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement."

We're about to hear from Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy on BBC Breakfast. You can watch live by clicking play above and we'll bring you text updates here.

He is also being asked about a planned overhaul of the youth justice system, which sets out how young people vulnerable to falling into lives of crime will receive earlier support.

Image source, Getty Images

We haven't heard directly from Andy Burnham or Wes Streeting since Saturday, when both began to set out their stalls for a potential leadership contest.

Streeting confirmed he would stand in any future race, saying: "We need a proper contest with the best candidates on the field, and I will be standing."

He also said leaving the European Union had been a "catastrophic mistake" and the UK should "one day" rejoin the bloc.

Burnham told the BBC that Labour "needs to be better", adding: "We've got to see this as a moment to reclaim the Labour Party, to save it from where it's been - we can't just carry on as we are."

The Makerfield by-election is likely to be held on 18 June, the BBC understands.

Labour candidate applications close at midday today.

Labour's ruling body cleared Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to run for selection last week, having previously blocked him from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election in February. This paves the way for him to return to Westminster, should he stand and win.

It's not yet clear when the other parties will hold their selections.

At the general election in 2024, Labour won the seat with 45.2% of the vote, a majority of 5,399. Reform came in second with 31.8%.

But local elections earlier this month showed Reform taking roughly 50% of the vote - albeit council ward boundaries do not fully align with constituency boundaries.

Party leader Nigel Farage shared pictures on X over the weekend showing Reform activists campaigning in Makerfield.

Image source, UK Parliament

Image source, PA Media

The UK's membership of the European Union looks set to become a key issue in the Makerfield by-election - and a possible Labour leadership contest.

As Joe Pike just reported, Streeting said in a speech on Saturday the UK should "one day" rejoin the EU as he described Brexit as a "catastrophic mistake".

He said leaving the EU left the UK "less wealthy, less powerful and less in control than at any point before the Industrial Revolution".

"The biggest economic opportunity we have is on our doorstep. We need a new special relationship with the EU, because Britain's future lies with Europe – and one day back in the European Union," he added.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy on Sunday described Streeting's call to rejoin the EU as "a bit odd".

She agreed the UK should not have left the EU but does not "really understand why the sudden focus on Europe".

Joe Pike
Political correspondent

Image source, PA Media

Allies of the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, have criticised his Labour leadership rival - Wes Streeting - for saying that "Britain's future lies with Europe - and one day, back in the European Union".

They tell the BBC the former health secretary’s intervention was unhelpful because highlighting the issue of Brexit could make it more difficult for Burnham to beat Reform in the forthcoming by-election in Makerfield in Greater Manchester.

Winning the seat would allow Burnham to challenge Keir Starmer and become prime minister.

In 2024, Labour’s general election manifesto promised that there would be no return to the EU single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement.

If either Andy Burnham or Wes Streeting were to succeed Sir Keir Starmer, the UK would have a prime minister who supported rejoining the EU at some point in the future. Over the weekend both men reaffirmed that position, but Streeting did it far more whole-heartedly.

He said in a speech that Brexit was a catastrophic mistake and that one day the UK should rejoin the EU.

Allies of Burnham believe that intervention was unhelpful, since it highlights an issue the Greater Manchester mayor wants to avoid in the by-election. He faces a battle to beat Reform in a leave-supporting area.

Yet Burnham said in an interview on Saturday that "in the long-term there was a case" for rejoining the EU, although he wasn’t advocating that during this campaign.

A spokesperson for Streeting told the BBC that he had always been a pro-European, and the party shouldn’t fear debate or ideas.