In a move that could shake up the political landscape, Labour’s leadership is facing mounting pressure to allow Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, to contest an upcoming by-election in the Gorton and Denton constituency. With Angela Rayner, the former deputy leader, expected to urge Prime Minister Keir Starmer to green-light Burnham’s candidacy, the party finds itself navigating a delicate balancing act.
The timeline for the by-election is tight, with applications opening on Friday and closing just days later on Sunday. Burnham, who has not yet confirmed his intention to run, has long been rumoured to be eyeing a return to Westminster, potentially to challenge Starmer’s leadership if Labour performs poorly in May’s local elections.
However, Starmer’s allies have been working to prevent Burnham’s comeback, fearing he could pose a threat to the party leader’s position. The battle lines have been drawn, with a string of Labour MPs and the general secretary of the powerful Unite union warning against any attempt to block Burnham’s candidacy.
“Let the north decide who their Labour candidate should be for the Gorton and Denton by-election,” said Jo White, a leading MP who represents the party’s so-called “red wall” constituencies. “A London stitch-up will be a disaster for Labour.”
The contest is shaping up to be a highly contested affair, with the Green Party leader, Zack Polanski, and the independent former MP George Galloway both hinting at potential runs. Reform UK, the political party formerly known as the Brexit Party, could also field a candidate, with the party’s policy chief, Zia Yusuf, or a former Conservative MP, such as Jonathan Gullis, rumoured to be in the running.
Allies of Burnham have suggested that there would be significant discontent among MPs, unions, and party members should the leadership attempt to block his return to parliament, where he served as the MP for Leigh from 2001 to 2017.
As the Labour party grapples with this delicate situation, the outcome of the Gorton and Denton by-election could have far-reaching implications for the party’s future direction and Starmer’s leadership.