The political landscape in the UK is abuzz with speculation as the future of the Labour Party’s leadership hangs in the balance. The party’s former Health Secretary, Andy Burnham, is rumoured to be considering a bold move to challenge the current leader, Sir Keir Starmer, for the top job.
Burnham, the well-known Mayor of Greater Manchester, has long harboured ambitions of leading the Labour Party. He has previously run for the leadership twice, in 2010 and 2015, but has been unsuccessful on both occasions. However, the upcoming by-election in the Gorton and Denton constituency, triggered by the resignation of former Labour minister Andrew Gwynne, could provide Burnham with a potential route back to Parliament and a renewed opportunity to make a push for the leadership.
The move, if materialised, would not be without its challenges. Burnham’s past record as a “serial loser” on the national stage may work against him, and he faces the prospect of potential humiliation should the upstart Reform UK party manage to thwart his bid to become an MP. Additionally, Burnham’s strained relationship with the current Labour leadership, exemplified by the backlash he faced last year over suggestions of a potential coup, could further complicate his path to the top.
Nonetheless, Burnham’s supporters believe that his success as the “King of the North” and his ability to connect with the party’s grassroots could give him a fighting chance. The question remains, however, whether Starmer and his allies within the Labour Party’s executive committee will allow Burnham to run for the by-election, and whether the former Health Secretary can muster enough support from Labour MPs to mount a credible leadership challenge.
As the political drama unfolds, one thing is clear: the timing of Burnham’s potential move could be crucial. In the world of politics, as the saying goes, “timing is everything.” Whether Burnham can seize the moment and reap the rewards, or whether he will once again fall short, remains to be seen.
