Ed Milliband’s allies have insisted the energy secretary’s relationship with Sir Keir Starmer has not broken down amid reports he has “ghosted” the prime minister in recent weeks.
Sources close to Mr Miliband have denied the cabinet minister refused to take Sir Keir’s calls amid a row over departmental cuts to fund defence spending.
No 10 were said to be “blindsided” by John Healey’s resignation as defence secretary last week as they were instead concerned that Mr Miliband would quit over spending cuts.
The Times reported that Sir Keir had been “ghosted” by his energy secretary, as he repeatedly contacted Mr Miliband without a response.
But a source close to Mr Miliband hit back at the reports, branding them as “completely untrue”.
The minister was reportedly one of the first in Sir Keir’s cabinet to urge him to set out a timetable for his departure following last month’s disastrous local election results.
Mr Miliband is said to be close to Sir Keir’s main leadership competitor, Andy Burnham, who could return to Parliament this week if he is able to claim victory in the Makerfield by-election.
Mr Burnham is the favourite to win the by-election in the Greater Manchester constituency this week, multiple opinion polls have suggested.
His nearest challenger is Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon, though Nigel Farage’s political outfit is worried about losing voters to Restore Britain, a party which positions itself as more hardline than Reform on migration and other issues.
Sir Keir on Friday indicated he would give Mr Burnham a cabinet job if he wins the Makerfield by-election, saying he wants the leadership rival to “play a big part in the Labour government”.
Speaking on the fringes of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, the prime minister said he would talk to Mr Burnham “after the weekend” once the results from Makerfield are in, as well as saying there are no circumstances under which he would walk away from his job.
The Telegraph has reported Mr Miliband could be in the running to be Mr Burnham’s chancellor, but he has also been touted by some as a potential challenger himself.
A Miliband supporter told The Independent earlier this year: “He has the energy and enthusiasm. He is loved by younger members of the party. He is a new man from when he was last leader.”
But amid growing threats to his grip on power, Sir Keir insisted he doesn’t feel “angry” or “bitter” over the leadership crisis he is facing.
It comes after Wes Streeting indicated he is prepared to trigger a Labour leadership contest as early as next week, urging Sir Keir to set out a timetable for his departure if Mr Burnham wins the Makerfield by-election.
The former health secretary insisted he has the backing of the 80 MPs required to stand in a contest as he accused the PM of not listening to the party or his Cabinet in a series of public appearances on Tuesday.
