UK MP Angela Rayner allies are pushing her to strike a deal with Andy Burnham to let him back into Parliament – but only if she becomes prime minister first, via The i Paper

Sources close to the former deputy Labour leader say Rayner does not believe that the hugely-popular mayor of Greater Manchester has a “realistic chance” of becoming a MP before a leadership contest is triggered Allies of Rayner have convinced a number of MPs originally backing Burnham that she is the only candidate from the “soft left” that can replace Sir Keir Starmer if the starting gun on the race for 10 Downing Street is fired imminently.