Labour Leadership Tensions Rise as Burnham Faces Potential Parliamentary Return
Keir Starmer is confronting mounting internal pressure not to obstruct Andy Burnham from making a dramatic return to parliament, with Angela Rayner poised to advocate for the Manchester mayor's candidacy in an upcoming critical byelection. The prime minister's allies have been actively working to prevent Burnham's potential selection as the Labour candidate for the Greater Manchester seat of Gorton and Denton, driven by concerns that he could emerge as a formidable challenger to the current leadership.
Rayner's Support and Union Backing
Angela Rayner, the former Labour deputy leader, is understood to be supportive of Burnham standing if he expresses a desire to do so. She is expected to publicly argue that he should be permitted to contest the seat when she addresses Labour's north-west regional conference on Saturday. This stance aligns with warnings from a string of Labour MPs and Andrea Egan, the new general secretary of Unison, Britain's largest union, who cautioned against "control-freakery" within the party.
Egan emphasised the need for a democratic process, stating on social media that "local party members should decide who they want to represent them." Jo White, a leading MP who oversees Labour's so-called red wall group, echoed this sentiment, asserting that "a London stitch-up will be a disaster for Labour." These comments highlight growing unease about centralised interference in candidate selections.
Tight Timeline and Political Maneuvering
The timeline for candidates to declare their intentions is exceptionally compressed. Applications opened at 5pm on Friday, with a deadline to seek permission from the national executive committee just 24 hours later, and all submissions closing on Sunday shortly before midnight. A candidate is slated to be chosen within the week, adding urgency to the political manoeuvring.
Burnham has not formally confirmed his intention to run for the seat, but he has been transparent about his ambitions. In the lead-up to the party's conference last year, he revealed that numerous MPs had encouraged him to consider a bid for the Labour leadership, a disclosure that provoked significant outrage within Number 10 and among cabinet ministers. Should he decide to stand, Burnham would be required to resign from his position as mayor of Greater Manchester.
Potential Candidates and Byelection Dynamics
Bev Craig, the leader of Manchester City Council, is another possible Labour contender, believed to be favoured by allies of Starmer. Reports on Friday suggested that Burnham might attempt to arrange for a high-profile figure, such as footballer Gary Neville, to run as the Labour candidate for Greater Manchester mayor if he steps down to pursue a Westminster seat.
The byelection is shaping up to be a fiercely contested race. Zack Polanski, the Green Party leader, has not ruled himself out, while George Galloway, the independent former MP and Workers Party leader, has also hinted at a potential candidacy. Reform UK could present a significant challenge, with possible contenders including policy chief Zia Yusuf or a former Tory MP like Jonathan Gullis. Labour secured the seat under Andrew Gwynne, who later became an independent, with a substantial 13,413 majority in 2024, but Reform and the Greens trailed closely behind with 14% and 13% of the vote respectively.
Internal Divisions and Leadership Speculation
The contest was triggered by the resignation of independent MP Andrew Gwynne on medical grounds, immediately sparking speculation that Burnham could re-enter parliament in time to mount a potential leadership challenge to Starmer, particularly if May's local elections prove disastrous for Labour. Members of the party's ruling national executive committee predicted it would be challenging for Burnham to navigate the selection process given the prevalence of Starmer loyalists on the body.
However, a Northern backbencher noted that support for Burnham's return extends beyond leftwing factions, suggesting that blocking him via the NEC could be perceived as a sign of weakness. They added that if Yusuf and Polanski were to stand, Burnham would position himself as the centrist candidate, arguing that "stronger northern representation in government" is essential.
Official Responses and Future Implications
Stephen Kinnock, a health minister, insisted that the candidate selection process would follow standard procedures, despite rumours it might be restricted to an all-women or all black, Asian and minority ethnic shortlist. He praised Burnham as "doing a great job in his current role" and described him as an "incredibly talented and effective leader."
Allies of Burnham indicated that significant disquiet would arise among MPs, unions, and party members if the leadership attempted to block his return to parliament, where he previously served as the MP for Leigh from 2001 to 2017. He has long been viewed as seeking a parliamentary comeback to potentially contest the leadership should an opportunity arise, though options for a byelection in the north-west of England were considered limited.
This unfolding situation underscores deep-seated tensions within the Labour Party, balancing democratic principles against leadership stability as the Gorton and Denton byelection approaches.
