Splits within the Labour Party have been exposed after Andy Burnham launched an outspoken attack on Keir Starmer’s reshuffle.

The Manchester mayor said the party had become too “London-centric” under Starmer, and said he hoped an MP from the north of England will succeed Angela Rayner as Labour’s deputy leader.

He also hit out at the decision to strip the Labour whip from MPs who rebelled against the government’s plans to slash the welfare budget.

Meanwhile, Emily Thornberry accused No.10 of “not listening to people of good will who want the party to succeed”.

Starmer carried out a major shake-up of his cabinet on Friday in the wake of Rayner’s resignation after she broke the ministerial code by failing to pay enough stamp duty on a flat she bought near Brighton.

Lucy Powell

See Full Page