The newly elected Makerfield MP stood against female Labour leadership candidates in both 2010 and 2015

Andy Burnham has come under fire after sources close to the Makerfield MP described him as "Labour's first female Prime Minister".

Mr Burnham, who unsuccessfully stood for the Labour leadership in 2010 and 2015, is expected to secure the keys to No10 following Sir Keir Starmer's resignation on Monday.

Despite Labour electing a record-breaking 190 female MPs to the House of Commons at the 2024 General Election, Mr Burnham is not expected to face a challenge from a female leadership candidate.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner had all been earmarked as potential challengers for the top job.

However, Mr Burnham is currently the only potential candidate to formally admit he will enter the race to succeed Sir Keir.

Insiders have also suggested the ex-Greater Manchester Mayor is seeking a coronation rather than a contest.

But comments about Mr Burnham being "Labour's first female Prime Minister" sparked a row within the party this afternoon.

A source told The Spectator: "The reason Labour have always craved, but also been cautious about, a female leader is because, in a Labour Government, she could have an unashamedly female agenda, focused on health, education, family finances and issues like safer streets, social care, online safety for kids, that are disproportionately important to women.

"[This would be] unlike the Tories' female leaders, who are under internal pressure – and the weight of history – to show how tough they are on traditionally male issues.

"Along comes Andy, surrounded by female advisers and backers, but more importantly, genuinely passionate about all those traditionally female-oriented issues, and much less so with the bombs and budgets.

"So could we finally see what Labour has failed to deliver all these years – a female PM in all but sex?"

While Labour has never elected a female leader, the Tory Party have managed to get three into No10.

Margaret Thatcher, who was known as the Iron Lady, led the Tory Party from 1975 to 1990 and secured three landslide victories in 1979, 1983 and 1987.

Meanwhile, Theresa May and Liz Truss also managed to get the keys to No10, with Kemi Badenoch's victory over Robert Jenrick in 2024 making it four-nil to the Conservative Party when it comes to electing female leaders.

However, Labour has not come close to electing a female leader and only elected its first female deputy leader in 1992.

The claim about Mr Burnham becoming "Labour's first female Prime Minister" appeared to spark a furious backlash in Westminster.

Labour MP Tulip Siddiq said: "If there's anything to make me feel more angry about the fact that no female MP has put themselves forward to be our Leader, it's reading utter insulting nonsense like this."

Ex-Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont added: "I guess we should not be too harsh on Andy Burnham.

"He is in a long tradition of Labour men who REALLY REALLY support women – right up to the point where they have to choose between their own preferment and supporting a woman for the role."

Mrs Badenoch took the opportunity to mock Labour over its stance on trans rights, joking: "'Labour might have changed leader, but they still don't know what a woman is."

Meanwhile, ex-Labour MP Rosie Duffield, who quit the party over its stance on trans rights, simply wrote: "No words. None."

Mr Burnham is expected to face little to no challenge for the Labour leadership, opening up the prospect of the Makerfield MP becoming Prime Minister by July 17.

Ex-Armed Forces Minister Al Carns yesterday hinted at challenging Mr Burnham during an interview with GB News.

However, the silver-haired Scotsman must formally announce his candidacy by July 9 to stop a coronation for the two-time leadership loser.