IAN LAVERY ended speculation yesterday by ruling himself out of the Labour leadership election — and backing Andy Burnham.

But the Wansbeck MP, who on Wednesday delivered a barnstorming speech to the Fire Brigades Union conference supporting working people’s participation in politics, is still determined to play a central role in reshaping his party.

Mr Lavery said that the next Labour leader would have their work cut out resisting attacks from the toxic right-wing press who came gunning for Ed Miliband.