Cabinet heavyweight Darren Jones has ruled himself out of the running against Andy Burnham to become the next Prime Minister. Asked by Sky‘s Beth Rigby if he is going to stand, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister said: “I’m not”.

He added: “And Andy Burnham is going to be the next prime minister. And if there was a contest of Labour Party members, he would win.

“So the question for me is, well, what would the benefit be to the country and to the party of a leadership contest? And Andy Burnham is going to be the next prime minister. And if there was a contest of Labour Party members, he would win.

“So the question for me is, well, what would the benefit be to the country and to the party of a leadership contest?”

Mr Jones also appeared to take a swipe at colleague Ed Miliband when asked who should replace Rachel Reeves.

He said: “I think the next chancellor needs to be able to have a clear view about the political economy and understand how the Treasury works.

“I think they need to have an important relationship with the prime minister, because, quite frankly, in many circumstances the chancellor in the Treasury is more powerful than the prime minister in Downing Street.

“So, you have to have someone that’s going to enable the delivery of the prime minister’s priorities and not try to control the prime minister. And that relationship is really critical.

“You also need a chancellor that can reassure the markets, reassure the trade unions and reassure the parliamentary Labour Party, and by extension the public.”

Asked whether Mr Miliband “falls short” of his tests, Mr Jones said: “I will let you mark those tests, but those are the tests I think need to be met.”

Mr Jones’s withdrawal, delivered during a live interview, removes one of the most credible potential challengers and significantly boosts the prospects of a swift coronation for Mr Burnham.

As a senior Starmer loyalist and one of the government’s most visible right-leaning figures, his endorsement carries substantial weight within the parliamentary party.

The development comes hours after Mr Burnham held his first private meeting with Sir Keir Starmer since announcing his leadership bid.

Downing Street has confirmed that Mr Burnham and any other candidates will receive “access talks” with civil servants, coordinated by Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo, ahead of formal nominations opening on July 9.

Government business will continue as normal but without major new policy announcements or spending commitments until a new leader is in place. The long-delayed defence investment plan, however, is still expected before the upcoming NATO summit.

With Wes Streeting already backing Mr Burnham and Mr Jones now stepping aside, momentum appears commanding. Potential wildcard Al Carns, the former armed forces minister, has yet to rule himself out, though sources suggest he may struggle to secure the 81 MP nominations required.

Jess Phillips has urged Mr Burnham to build a “pluralistic” cabinet to unify the party and maintain credibility against challenges from Reform UK.

Mr Burnham’s resounding victory in the Makerfield by-election has energised his campaign, positioning the former Greater Manchester Mayor as the clear favourite to enter No 10 within weeks. Whether he faces any contest at all remains to be seen, but senior figures are coalescing around the need for unity.