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The Manchester Mayor attacked his party leader for being too “timid” in stranding up to Boris Johnson. He said Labour needed to be “bolder” if it was to have any chance of winning the next general election.
Mr Burnham’s comments are the latest in a series of remarks made in recent months that have raised eyebrows about his plans for the future.
The Manchester Mayor has been clear he one day hopes to lead the Labour Party.
He has twice stood for election to the role, in 2010 and 2015, but missed out on the top job on both occasions.
In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, Mr Burnham gave his latest hint he wanted to become Labour leader.
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He said: “The country is crying out for somebody to step forward to say ‘you know what, we can’t have this’.
“We’ve become too timid sometimes and too nuanced in putting forward our policy.
“I think we’re going to have to get bolder in saying how Labour is the right party to rebuild post-pandemic.”
Admitting doubts about the leader’s ability, Mr Burnham added Sir Keir had so far only shown the potential to inspire votes.
He said: “He could be the man to do it. No question.”
But he ruled out any challenge in the near future to the leadership, adding: “He’s certainly got my support.”
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Separately, in an interview with the New Statesman, the Mayor has previously said: ‘I ain’t going back any time soon.
“I get asked it relentlessly: would I ever go back? So the answer is, I would, but it’s not any time soon.
“I’m supporting Keir – I want him to win the next general election, and I will do whatever I can to help him achieve that.”
A damning poll by YouGov conducted in June found 69 percent of Labour members would prefer Mr Burnham to be leader.
Just 21 percent of the 871 Labour members surveyed believed there was a chance of winning the next election under Sir Keir.
The Holborn and St Pancras MP is looking to re-launch his leadership campaign in the autumn in a bid to improve Labour’s electability.
He is planning to use his annual conference speech to party members to outline his vision for Britain.
It will be the first time he will have delivered a speech to party in person since becoming leader due to the pandemic.
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