In a bold move, Andy Burnham, the current Mayor of Greater Manchester, has applied to the Labour National Executive Committee (NEC) to be selected as the party’s candidate for the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election. Burnham’s decision comes at a critical juncture, as he believes this is the moment to mount the “strongest possible defence” of the values and achievements that have defined Manchester’s political landscape for generations.
In a letter to the NEC, Burnham outlined his reasoning, acknowledging the unexpected nature of the by-election but asserting that it presents a crucial opportunity to safeguard the “Manchester way” against the threat of divisive politics. Burnham, who left Westminster nearly a decade ago, has found renewed purpose in his role as mayor, pioneering a different approach that he believes can be amplified at the national level.
“Manchester inspires because it is a place that has always stood for the equality of all people, right back to the cotton workers of 1862 who refused to handle slave-picked cotton,” Burnham wrote. “In my time as mayor, I have drawn strength from that tradition and worked hard to unite people.”
Burnham’s decision to seek the Labour candidacy is driven by his desire to build on the progress made in Greater Manchester, which he describes as the “UK’s fastest-growing city region.” However, he sees a direct threat to the city’s core values from a brand of politics that seeks to “pit people against each other.”
Burnham’s letter to the NEC highlights his commitment to running a “hopeful and unifying campaign” that focuses on the positivity surrounding Greater Manchester’s achievements, while also addressing the alienation felt by many from the political process. He emphasises his willingness to support the work of the current government, rather than undermine it, and expresses confidence in the Labour party’s ability to win the subsequent Greater Manchester mayoral by-election.
The former MP for Leigh has assured the NEC that, if selected and successful in the by-election, he would give his all to the subsequent Greater Manchester mayoral contest, eager to build on the “powerful story” of the changes brought about by the region’s Labour leadership.
Burnham’s decision to re-enter the political arena at the national level reflects his belief that the challenges facing communities in Greater Manchester cannot be fully addressed without similar changes at the national level. As he stated, “Manchester won’t be able to be everything it should be without similar changes at a national level.”
The Labour NEC will now consider Burnham’s application, and the outcome of this internal process will be closely watched as the party seeks to maintain its stronghold in the Gorton and Denton constituencies.