Darren Jones reveals he doesn't want to serve as Andy Burnham's chief secretary despite giving up own leadership ambitions to back the incoming Prime Minister - and takes swipe at remaining leadership rival

By CHRISTIAN CALGIE, SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT-AT-LARGE Published: 19:11, 7 July 2026 | Updated: 19:17, 7 July 2026 Keir Starmer's most loyal ally in government Darren Jones has suggested he hasn't bought into Andy Burnham's 'project', despite giving up his own leadership hopes to row in behind the incoming premier. Speaking this evening, Mr Jones said he would not like to continue doing his current role of Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister in the next government, warning: 'You need someone you can trust, that's fully bought into the project because you essentially agree to deputise work'. 'I would encourage them to keep [the role], I don't want it… I'm not the right person to be the next Chief Secretary.' Mr Jones' intervention came after it was revealed Mr Burnham is considering delaying the announcement of any cabinet picks until he becomes Prime Minister, despite the markets being desperate to know who will be the next Chancellor. The Makerfield MP is said to favour a 'one and done' approach, announcing all of his new government on the day he enters Downing Street. Despite concerns in Whitehall that this is hampering efforts to prepare for the next government, Mr Jones insisted he would 'love' to be part of Mr Burnham's next top team, albeit in a different role. He told the Politico Conference in London: 'It's part of why I wanted to be a politician in the first place obviously - but I haven't been writing articles or giving hard pitches about particular things. 'If Andy thinks there's something he'd like me to do as part of the team I'd be delighted to be part of that and to contribute. But I definitely shouldn't be the next Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister.' Darren Jones said Andy Burnham had reassured him he won't crash the economy, but suggested he is not bought into the incoming premier's 'project'  Mr Jones was touted as a potential rival to Andy Burnham, with loyalists of Keir Starmer urging him to run  Mr Jones took a swipe at Al Carns, who is yet to rule himself out of the leadership race Mr Jones was touted as a potential rival leadership candidate to Mr Burnham in the days after Sir Keir's resignation announcement, as opponents of Mr Burnham fretted about his spendthrift approach to the economy. He announced he will not stand on June 24, saying he had been reassured by Mr Burnham that he did understand the fiscal constraints on government spending. He said this evening that he had 'not spent the last few months or years preparing for a leadership campaign like some of my colleagues had', refusing to name names. Mr Jones said MPs were asking him to stand not out of a personal desire to see him become PM, but concerns about what Mr Burnham would do on 'economic policy, the manifesto, and the trust we won at the last election'. He reiterated that Mr Burnham 'reassured me that on the fundamentals of economic policy he understands the fiscal constraints we all live under. But he believes you can do politics a bit differently under those fiscal constraints.' Asked whether Al Carns, the former Veterans Minister, may still launch a rival leadership bid, Mr Jones appeared unaware that his former government colleague is still yet to rule out a tilt at the top job. In a swipe at Mr Carns, he asked: 'Is he still in the contest? Well good for him.' 'The nominations will close soon and if Al's got 81 MPs and two General Secretaries, and a few hundred thousand pounds, then off he goes'