The Labour Party is facing a potential civil war over the future of Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, as the deadline for him to make a bid for a return to Westminster approaches. Speculation has been growing this week that Burnham is seeking to stand in the upcoming by-election in Gorton and Denton, following the decision of suspended Labour MP Andrew Gwynne to step down.
Burnham’s potential return to Parliament has sparked concerns that he could challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the party leadership, as Labour’s popularity wanes and it trails behind Nigel Farage’s Reform UK in the polls. However, even some of Starmer’s staunchest critics are reportedly angry at the prospect of Burnham standing, accusing him of being more interested in being “the centre of attention” than in serving the party.
The decision on whether Burnham will be allowed to stand rests with Labour’s powerful National Executive Committee (NEC), whose membership includes many Starmer loyalists. Deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell has said the decision should be up to Burnham and local party members, while London Mayor Sadiq Khan has voiced his support for Burnham’s return to Parliament.
The situation has the potential to cause a major rift within the party, with one Labour MP warning that blocking Burnham’s candidacy would “damage the party hugely in the north and across the country” and lead to a major backlash. Another MP has accused Burnham of “craven” and “the worst kind of politics,” suggesting that he should be “ignored” if he decides not to stand.
The coming days will be crucial as Burnham weighs his options and the Labour leadership grapples with the potential fallout from his decision. With the party’s unity and future direction at stake, the stakes could not be higher.