BATTLE has been begun within the Labour Party over the shape and direction of the Andy Burnham government, likely to begin next month.

The key issue is the direction of economic management and the extent to which the new regime will break with the failed approach of Sir Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

Starmer’s chief secretary in Downing Street, Darren Jones, has refused to rule out challenging Mr Burnham for the top job if he thinks the new premier may lean towards the left.

It is an empty threat in so far as he would struggle to secure the required 81 nominations from Labour MPs and, even if he did, would be defeated in a membership vote without Mr Burnham having to break sweat.

Mr Jones is unlikely to make good on this threat, but his quixotic idea of running as “continuity Starmerism” is an indication of the pressure Labour’s wounded right-wing are putting on Mr Burnham ahead of his entering No 10.

Former armed forces minister Al Carns, a soldier-turned-politician, is an even more unlikely candidate who has failed to deny an interest in running.

An associate of Mr Carns said: “I think Al will see where the land lies in the next day or so before making a final decision as to his course of action,” although few seemed to be holding their breath.

Labour’s national executive set out a timetable for the election today with MPs being given the chance to nominate from July 9 to July 15, and trade unions and other affiliates having to nominate the day after.

A special conference is pencilled in for July 17 which, unless a contest is somehow forced, will see Mr Burnham elected Labour leader and Prime Minister.

His first key decision will be the choice of a Chancellor to succeed Ms Reeves who, despite angling energetically to keep her job, will almost certainly be moved, given her close association with so many of Sir Keir’s dire political misjudgements.

The Star understands that Mr Burnham has already offered the job to Energy Secretary and former Labour leader Ed Miliband, a close ally also regarded as the most competent and interventionist of the current cabinet.

However, his promotion is strongly opposed by the City and big business because of his relative radicalism, and the Unite union on account of his commitment to “net zero” at the expense of drilling in the North Sea. 

The most likely alternative is former health secretary Wes Streeting, the Blairite who opportunely declared his backing for Mr Burnham on Monday, having previously pledged to run for leader himself.

Capitulating to pressure to appoint Mr Streeting would sharply define Mr Burnham as a willing prisoner of the Labour right at the outset.

The Socialist Campaign Group of MPs is not planning to stand a candidate of its own, the first time it has sat out a Labour leadership contest this century. Many left MPs are prepared to get behind Mr Burnham at this stage.

It is, however, working on a policy paper which will spell out the changes a Burnham government needs to commit to in order to secure their support.

Mr Burnham is understood to have held meetings with some SCG MPs, as well as other individuals on the left, signalling an openness to working collaboratively in stark contrast to the ultra-factional Sir Keir.

However, supporters of Mainstream, the group founded by Neal Lawson which has been strongly promoting Mr Burnham for the leadership over the last year, fear they are being frozen out by his Makerfield campaign manager Louise Haigh, the former transport secretary.

Mr Lawson is a long-standing advocate of forming anti-right electoral pacts, which is not something Mr Burnham is likely to entertain, despite his advocacy of electoral reform.

Scottish National Party Westminster leader Dave Doogan was among those demanding clarity from Mr Burnham as to his plans today.

“Until now, people have been deliberately left in the dark as to what Andy Burnham will actually change when this likely political coronation takes place,” he said.

“It is now time that Andy Burnham put that right and actually gave some straight answers on what he intends to deliver as prime minister.

“Burnham will only pass the test of change if he delivers a bold change of direction from the failure of this UK Labour government.”