Labour has been mocked over claims that Andy Burnham will be their "first woman prime minister". A senior party source said the new Makerfield MP, who looks set to enter 10 Downing Street within weeks, would have an “unashamedly female agenda" and be a "female PM in all but sex".

But the comment has been ridiculed by opposition parties and women's rights campaigners. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: “Labour might have changed leader, but they still don’t know what a woman is.”

Shadow Equalities Minister Claire Coutinho added: “I, for one, only focus my tiny lady mind on energy, the economy or defence when I’m trying to impress the boys.”

Harry Potter author JR Rowling said: "Great news. The Labour Party has finally found a woman they fancy as leader. It's a man who'll be 'a female PM in all but sex.'

"A senior figure in the party actually thought that was a good thing to say out loud."

The claim has also sparked fury from some Labour MPs, with Tulip Siddiq writing on X: "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."

A senior Labour source described Mr Burnham as "Labour's first woman prime minister".

They 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?"

But a source close to Mr Burnham said: “This framing is ridiculous and speaks to a briefing culture which is out of date and out of touch.

“The Labour Party is full of talented women and Andy is proud to be backed by many of them.”