Labour's deputy leader has dodged on whether Keir Starmer is the right person to turn around the party's fortunes as grim local elections loom.

Lucy Powell, a close ally of Andy Burnham, appeared to stop short of giving the PM full-throated backing amid rising questions over his future.

Although Ms Powell dismissed leadership speculation as a 'side issue', when asked whether Sir Keir was best placed to restore the party's fortunes she merely told the Guardian: 'I'm not going to get into that.'

The comments contrast with the line from other loyalists, who have insisted Sir Keir is the 'best person' to be PM. 

Labour is braced for a battering in contests for English councils on Thursday, while Parliamentary votes in Scotland and Wales could also be dire.

Both Reform and the Greens are expected to make huge gains in traditional red strongholds. 

With Sir Keir already mortally wounded by the Mandelson scandal, rivals are preparing in case he is washed away in a wave of Labour fury.

Rumours have been swirling in Westminster about manoeuvring and deal-making by the apparent main contenders, Mr Burnham, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting.  

However, they all face significant obstacles, with Manchester Mayor Mr Burnham not even in the Commons and Ms Rayner still wrangling with HMRC over unpaid stamp duty.   

Sir Keir's allies have been scrambling to assemble a survival strategy, with the King's Speech due on May 13. 

The PM looks to have decided against a reshuffle in the immediate aftermath of the results, with concerns it could only fuel Labour unrest.

Speaking to the Guardian on the campaign trail in Leeds, Ms Powell - who was elected deputy leader with her own mandate - said: 'There's no magic bullet here for us. We are in a difficult world...

'I strongly believe that we've got the right agenda to start turning that around. To give people hope, an opportunity and see the change in their communities.'

Challenged if Sir Keir was the right leader to deliver that agenda, Ms Powell said: 'I'm not going to get into that. I think there's no one change that [will affect] all of these situations. 

'We've still got to tackle these big issues, and we've got to do it in the right way with the right values. Having some side order conversation about personnel and people, I think misses the point.'

Ms Powell said there was a 'huge amount of anger, sort of despondency' about the Mandelson furore.

'Every day that we're still on the fallout from the Mandelson appointment is a day we're not talking to our communities and our voters about what all our MPs and councillors want us to be talking about,' she said. 

Striking a more enthusiastic tone, Labour Party chairwoman Annna Turley told the Mirror: 'Let's be resilient. Let's pull together as a team. We've got the best person that can be in the job. 

'We've got a leader recognized internationally for what he's achieving. We've done so much, but we have so much to do. 

'Let's not get distracted. Let's not keep looking at ourselves. Let's focus on the things that really matter to the people that we represent. Let's keep delivering on them, and let's go further and faster.'