As the Labour Party faces a crucial by-election in the Gorton and Denton constituencies, the party’s deputy prime minister, David Lammy, has cautioned against any moves by Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, to challenge Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.
Lammy, described as a “dear friend” of Burnham, has urged the party to avoid “rocking the boat” and airing its “dirty linen in public,” warning that such actions would be a “huge turnoff to the electorate.” The deputy prime minister’s comments come as Burnham faces a deadline of 5pm on Saturday to seek permission from Labour’s ruling body to stand as the party’s candidate in the upcoming by-election.
Burnham’s potential return to Westminster as an MP has fueled speculation that he could mount a leadership challenge against Starmer. However, Lammy has warned that any change in Labour’s leadership would “probably” force the party, which is currently trailing Nigel Farage’s Reform UK in the polls, to call an early general election.
Labour backbenchers have threatened that Starmer “will face a severe backlash” if he attempts to block Burnham from running in the by-election. The party’s national executive committee (NEC), widely seen as being under the control of Starmer’s supporters, will have the final say on Burnham’s candidacy.
Lammy’s intervention reflects the delicate balance within the Labour Party as it navigates the by-election and the potential for leadership tensions. The deputy prime minister has urged the party to focus on “serving working people” rather than engaging in internal power struggles, warning that such infighting has historically been a “huge turnoff to the electorate.”
As the Labour Party grapples with these challenges, the outcome of the Gorton and Denton by-election and the party’s internal dynamics will undoubtedly be closely watched by both supporters and critics alike.
