Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, promises, in his request for permission to stand in a by-election to return to Westminster, “to support the work of the government, not undermine it”. But his very presence in the House of Commons would be a distraction for the prime minister, according to The Independent. Sir Keir Starmer has scored successes on the international stage in recent days. As things stand, it is not even clear that Mr Burnham would be a better prime minister than Sir Keir. Now is not the time to undermine the prime minister.