Andy Burnham would beat Keir Starmer in a leadership contest, a poll of Labour members has suggested.
A survey of 706 members found nearly six in 10 (59%) would vote for the current Greater Manchester mayor compared to nearly four in 10 (37%) for the Prime Minister.
The poll from 14-16 May comes after Mr Burnham was cleared to run for selection to be the candidate in the Makerfield by-election.
Mr Burnham has said he is prepared to “fight to the highest level”, as he and other senior Labour figures jostle to lead the party in the future.
Most Labour members think Wes Streeting was wrong to resign as health secretary (57%) and would rather Sir Keir beat him in a leadership challenge by 65% to 15%.
Mr Streeting has called for a “proper contest” to replace Sir Keir and confirmed he would stand if the race is triggered.
He said Britain must pursue a “new special relationship” with the European Union and signalled he wanted to see the country rejoin the trade bloc in the future.
Only 25% of Labour members thought he was right to quit the Cabinet, the YouGov poll suggested.
The pollster said: "Were there a direct contest between Starmer and Streeting, the prime minister would win handily, with 65% of Labour members saying they would vote for the current occupant of Number 10, versus only 15% who would seek to replace him with Streeting.
"Likewise, in alternative contests, Wes Streeting loses by wide margins to each of Andy Burnham (who would be backed by 80% of Labour members to Streeting’s 10%), Angela Rayner (by 70% to 19%) and Ed Miliband (by 58% to 28%)."
Party members do not think Labour can win re-election if Sir Keir remains in charge – but they do think they can if Mr Burnham takes over.
