Steve Reed says Andy Burnham should stick to his Manchester job following leadership speculation UK politics live

"The Labour party conference starts on Sunday and today Keir Starmer is making what is in effect the first important conference policy offer: levelling-up style plans to revitalise run-down high streets. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published some of the details in a news release. Kiran Stacey has a fuller run-down in the Guardian's splash. Guardian splash Photograph: Guardian"

"Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, gave an interview to the New Statesman published yesterday in which he said the country needed wholesale change. Today the Daily Telegraph has published another Burnham interview and, as Eleni Courea reports, in its he says Labour MPs are urging him to challenge the prime minister. The last time the Telegraph talked up the prospects of a metro mayor with ambitions for higher office, we ended up with Boris Johnson as prime minister."

"Steve Reed, the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, has been giving media interviews this morning. He has been talking about the plan to revive high streets but he has had to respond to the latest Burnham comments too. He was tactful, but the message still came through; essentially, he was telling Burnham to get back in his box. This is what he told Times Radio Andy is playing a great role already. He's the mayor of Greater"

Labour party conference begins Sunday and Keir Starmer is offering levelling-up style plans to revitalise run-down high streets. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government released some details and regional TV interviews from Starmer will be broadcast at 6pm. Andy Burnham gave an interview saying the country needed wholesale change and further interviews in the Daily Telegraph report Labour MPs urging him to challenge the prime minister. Speculation about a Burnham leadership bid echoes past metro mayor ambitions that elevated a mayor to prime minister. Steve Reed promoted the high-streets plan while urging Burnham to stay in his mayoral role.

Read at www.theguardian.com