ALLIES of Sir Keir Starmer are so desperate to block Andy Burnham becoming an MP they suggested Gary Neville should stand instead.
Senior figures discussed convincing the Labour-supporting Manchester United legend to be their candidate for the upcoming by-election in the city.
Neville is a Labour supporter and has interviewed the PM on several occasions, although it is unlikely he would trade his media lifestyle for Parliament.
But sources said it illustrates how keen Downing Street is to stop Mr Burnham getting a route back to Westminster where he can challenge Sir Keir for the leadership.
Loyalists of the PM are currently split over whether they try to block the Manchester Mayor from becoming an MP, or whether that would spark a fresh bout of infighting.
No10 is braced for a coup plot after the May local elections which are expected to be terrible for Labour.
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Mr Burnham, Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner are seen as the likely contenders who could move against Sir Keir.
But Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee, which is stuffed with No10 sympathisers, could deny Mr Burnham a route back to Parliament.
Yesterday some MPs warned they would not tolerate any such skullduggery from Team Starmer.
Last night Angela Rayner was said to support a run by Manchester mayor Mr Burnham for the Gorton and Denton seat vacated by Labour’s Andrew Gwynne.
And Jo White, leader of the Red Wall MPs’ group warned “a London stitch-up will be a disaster for Labour”.
Sources said suggesting Neville shows Downing Street is keen to stop Mr Burnham challenging for the Labour leadership.
