There are only three options for Labour leadership - and Andy Burnham is not one of them, Karl Turner tells LBC

Want LBC stories before everyone else? Set us as your Preferred Source on Google

Speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari at Breakfast, Mr Turner said the party has only two contenders to challenge Sir Keir Starmer's leadership: Wes Streeting or Angela Rayner.

"Get a grip. Or keep Keir Starmer," he suggested as a third option.

"But don't pretend you can have somebody who's not got a chance of getting a seat," he said of Mr Burnham.

As calls grow for Sir Keir to step down, many Labour MPs have shared their support for Mr Burnham, who is currently the Mayor of Greater Manchester, to return to Westminster.

Despite their wishes, Mr Burnham's return relies on another MP standing down, forcing a by-election, and Mr Burnham then winning that seat.

While some MPs have been vocal in their support for Mr Burnham's attempt at a comeback, Mr Turner is doubtful.

Read more: Who is Catherine West, the Labour MP challenging Starmer?

Read more: Who could challenge Starmer? The contenders vying for 10 Downing Street

He told LBC: "There's some of the left saying wait for Burnham. How long? How is he going to get in? The NEC aren't going to change their tune.

"Well, you know, six months ago we thought it was a terrible idea to let him in, but now it's inevitable that we can't win a seat for him... Let him in now. What on earth are they talking about?"

Labour’s national executive committee (NEC), dominated by supporters of the Prime Minister, blocked Mr Burnham from contesting the Gorton and Denton by-election earlier this year, with the formerly safe Labour seat going on to be won by the Greens.

Mr Turner, who currently sits as an Independent MP, was suspended from the Labour Party in March over comments made about colleagues that were described as "uncollegiate".

Turner also regularly criticised the prime minister's policies, including the government's plans to reform jury trials.

Despite his past criticisms of Sir Keir, Mr Turner said he does want him to succeed.

He told LBC: "I'm not desperate to see the demise of Keir Starmer.

"Even though I think Keir Starmer, frankly, has treated people like me a bit badly, actually. I want him to succeed.

"Most of us ought to wish that he can succeed. I've messaged him this morning to say 'Keir, come on, you've got a chance. Drop the autocue, be authentic'.

"And I'm hoping he can be, but coming out with a load of nonsense that he said time and again is not going to cut the mustard."

Speculation about the Prime Minister’s future has surged since Thursday’s elections that saw Labour lose almost 1,500 English councillors, go backwards in Scotland and slump to third in Wales.

In a speech in central London on Monday, Sir Keir said he took “responsibility” for the losses but insisted he would fight on.

Facing down those calling for his resignation, Sir Keir said: “I’m not going to shy away from the fact that I’ve got some doubters, including in my own party.

“I’m not going to shy away from the fact that I have to prove them wrong, and I will.”

Sir Keir set out several measures, including legislation to nationalise British Steel, a ban on “far-right agitators” coming to the UK for a planned march on Saturday and a plan to put the UK “at the heart of Europe”.

He cast the current political moment as a “battle for the soul” of the UK, warning that if Labour failed, the country would head down “a very dark path”.

He said: “This is nothing less than a battle for the soul of our nation and I want to be crystal clear about how we will win it because we cannot win as a weaker version of Reform or the Greens.

“We can only win as a stronger version of Labour, a mainstream party of power, not protest.”