Ed Miliband 'ghosting' Keir Starmer as Energy Secretary set to back Andy Burnham standing as Prime Minister

Ed Miliband is said to be "ghosting" Sir Keir Starmer as the Energy Secretary prepares to defy his boss and back Andy Burnham as Prime Minister.

The former Labour leader has already been tipped to be in the running to replace Rachel Reeves as Chancellor if the "King of the North" is successful in his bid to win the Makerfield by-election and boot out Sir Keir from No10.

Over the past week, Mr Miliband and Sir Keir are understood to have clashed over making cuts to the former leader's department to funnel more funds into defending Britain.

But he has been accused of declining calls from his boss while the pair remain at a crossroads over the spiralling issue, The Times revealed.

A source close to Mr Miliband denied the claim altogether and insisted the pair did speak in the end.

Mr Miliband eventually accepted a one per cent cut to his Net Zero funding.

However, he remains on Downing Street's "resignation watch", which left Labour officials "blindsided" when John Healey resigned from the Ministry of Defence last Thursday.

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Labour accused of changing election rules to stop Reform UK winning

Labour has been accused of changing election rules to stop Reform UK winning a potential mayoral race in Greater Manchester.

Lord Hayward, a Conservative peer and former MP, said the Government was rushing to change the way mayors are elected.

Peers on Tuesday approved the Combined Authorities (Mayoral Elections) (Amendment) Order 2026, which would revert mayoral elections to the supplementary vote system, where voters get a first and second preference candidate choice.

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