Burnham team tell ministers to delay resignations to avoid chaos

Exclusive: Allies of Labour's Makerfield candidate concerned rapid collapse of Starmer government would increase instability

Andy Burnham's campaign has been forced to talk ministers out of resigning as early as this weekend to avoid Keir Starmer's government descending into chaos amid fallout from the Makerfield byelection, the Guardian can reveal.

As they prepare for a potential change of leader in the event he beats Reform on Thursday, Burnham's team is increasingly concerned a rapid collapse of Starmer's administration would mean further instability for the country.