David Miliband, a senior Labour figure who left politics in 2013, has publicly praised Andy Burnham, describing him as having "this openness and energy that I think is very attractive and positive." The BBC reported this on 26 June 2026.

The praise matters because Burnham's supporters have been discussing bringing Miliband back into a government role — potentially through a House of Lords seat, which would let him join the Cabinet without being elected as an MP.

Burnham recently returned to Westminster and is trying for the Labour leadership again. He tried twice before, in 2010 and 2015, without success. His return positions him as a possible contender if the current Labour leader steps down.

For a leadership contest to begin, either the current leader must resign, or at least 20 per cent of Labour MPs must nominate a challenger. This rule gives MPs a lot of power — they act like gatekeepers before the wider party membership votes. Burnham knows this terrain well from his two previous attempts.

Over the past two weeks, there have been signs that Burnham's team is preparing for a possible bid. His supporters have been publicly discussing who might fill Cabinet roles; others have come out with public support; and disagreements about key posts have appeared in the news. This could mean a coordinated campaign is underway, or it could just be the normal talk that happens when a senior politician seems ready to make a move. Either way, it suggests things are moving from positioning to actual preparation.

The question of bringing David Miliband back raises some considerations. Creating a House of Lords seat specifically to bring someone into Cabinet is legally normal but politically worth noting. It raises questions about whether such appointments — in a chamber that isn't elected — sit well with the idea of democratic accountability.

Debate has already started about who would do what in a future Burnham government. The BBC reported on 24 June that Labour figures, including Health Secretary Wes Streeting, have been discussing whether Ed Miliband (David's brother and the politician who beat David in the 2010 leadership race) might become Chancellor under Burnham. These disagreements have surfaced before any leadership contest has even formally begun.