Read our Privacy noticeKeir Starmer and his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney would block Andy Burnham from getting on the shortlist of potential candidates for a parliamentary seat, scuppering any potential leadership challenge, a senior minister has claimed. The minister, who is an ally of Mr Burnham, told The Independent: “Keir and Morgan wouldn’t even let him get on the shortlist to be a candidate. The prime minister, though, looked more confident that he has done at any time during his first 15 months in office. He was noticeably visible in the Labour conference, mixing with delegates and others in the bar area and restaurant in a highly unusual move. “Keir needs to be less worried about Andy [Burnham] and this conference and more what might happen to him in June or July next year,” the minister noted.